After the transmission, Tegaru hopped out of the Gundam's cockpit and sat on its opening beside Aina and continued their conversation.

Tegaru: Sorry if it took us that long, we just worked out a tiny problem.

Aina: It'sfine. 

Tegaru: So, where were we? Oh yeah, you were about to tell me why Dennis bullied you in the first place. So why is it?

Aina: Yeah.......I was bullied by Dennis because I was abandoned by my parents. 

Tegaru: What?

Aina: Yeah. I told them about what happened to my parents and Dennis just.......

Tegaru: Started to bully you because of that? I get it about what happened to your parents but, that's not right. I guess that guy never really was a good listener at all. He's a very judgmental person, like anyone else these days.

Aina: Yeah I know. Every day I kept on hearing the same insults over and over for 5 years. Ialmost attempted suicide for how many times.

Tegaru: But you didn't do it.

Aina: Yeah. He surely made my life like hell. He turned all of the students at school against me. He even convinced the nerds in school not to talk to me. So I was basically a loner for a long time.   

Tegaru: Yet you still continue to live. You still smile and live life despite of the pain he gave you. Wow Aina, this just shows how much of a strong person you are. You're really an amazing person. Of all the girls I've met, you're different from them.

Aina: Really?     

Tegaru: Yeah. Most of the people I knew, once they're heart – broken from a break up, they usually come to me and say they wanted to end their lives.

Aina: So you're like a consultant? What did you tell them?    

Tegaru: I told them: 'If you leave this world so early, you'll be leaving behind a lot of people who cared for you. Just forget what happened. Move on, enjoy and live life to the fullest. Suicide doesn't take away the pain; it just gives it to someone else.'

Aina: What about you?

Tegaru: What about me?    

Aina: I mean, when your parents died, did you think of the same thing? Suicide?

Tegaru: Well, at first I did. But when I told this to me grandfather, he told me: 'If you did what you're planning to do, your father won't be happy to see you like this. If you continue to live despite of the great lose to you, I'm sure your father will be proud of you. So why won't you pilot a mobile suit your father left you behind. He just wanted to give you a healthy life'.

Aina: It's a good thing you didn't, because if you did, I wouldn't be meeting a person like you.

Tegaru: A person like me who knows nothing but to pilot a dangerous mobile weapon and fight? I'm not fit enough to be friends with a girl like you. You deserve someone better.    

Aina: That's not why. It's because you care for other people who are in need. You don't look into their pasts to see them of who they are you see them today. Plus, I've seen the goodness in you even though we just met today and you pilot a Gundam. You're a really good person, Tegaru.

Tegaru: *sighs* I guess you're right. I didn't notice that until you did. I was way too busy with my job now. I never really had the time to look into myself as a human being.    

Aina: Plus you have good friends looking out for you.

Tegaru: Yeah, I guess so. *chuckles*

Aina: What's so funny?    

Tegaru: *sighs* nothing, it's like we see into each other, our problems, our insights in life, our pros and cons.

Aina: *smiles* It's like we have something in common.

Tegaru: Yeah, I guess we do.     

Tegaru then reaches his hand out to Aina.

Tegaru: So, friends?

Aina: *shakes Tegaru's hand* Yeah, friends. 

Aina's phone suddenly rang because someone was calling.

Aina: I have to take this call.    

Tegaru: Go ahead, I don't mind.

Aina: Thanks.*picks up the call* Hello?     

Mirai: Hello? Aina, where are you?

Aina: Mirai, I'm fine. What about you?

Mirai: I'm fine too. Where are you?    

Aina: Well, it's long story but I'm here with - - - - - -

Tegaru: Mirai? Aina, you mean Ensign Mirai Kobayashi?    

Aina: Yeah - - - wait, even Mirai is working with you guys too?!

Mirai: Is that Ensign Tegaru Nishida I hear?    

Aina: Wait up; I'll put this in loudspeaker. *activates loudspeaker* Mirai, explain what's going on here. You're working for the military? I thought you're working as a bagger at the nearby grocery store?

Tegaru: What? A bagger at a grocery store? *laughs* that has to be funniest crap I've ever heard from you Mirai.     

Mirai: Shut up Ensign Nishida! You don't know what it's like to keep a secret you know. It's the best I could think of.

Aina: Mirai,what's happening here? Explain this.    

Tegaru: Hey Mirai, where's the mobile suits that are supposed to pick us up?

Mirai: They're on their way, Ensign Nishida. I've sent them the coordinates to your location using the Dominion's reactor's signature. 

Tegaru: They'd better be here in five minutes.

Aina: Yeah,you still have a lot of explaining to do.    

Mirai: Alright fine, I'll explain everything later when you two get back to base. But as of now, wait patiently there until the mobile suits come and pick you guys up. Especially you Ensign Nishida, you can't be patient enough.

Tegaru: I'm trying my best to do so you know.    

Aina: Ok but you promised to explain me everything.

Mirai: I promise.

Aina: You'd better be.    

Mirai: I will. *sighs* Alright then, Tegaru, take good care of her for me.

Tegaru: Roger that.

Mirai: Alright then, Ensign Mirai Kobayashi out.    

Tegaru: Ensign Tegaru Nishida and Aina Kazuki, over and out.

Mirai: That sounded good for the two of you. You two should go out on a date sometime. 

Aina: Wait what?

Tegaru: Shut up Mirai!

Mirai: *chuckles* I'll see you two later.

*Phone call ends*    

Aina: So, even Mirai's working with you huh?

Tegaru: Aina,are you mad? 

Aina: A bit. I'm mad at Mirai, she lied to me about being a bagger at a grocery store and then she works for the military with you guys? Unbelievable, it's just unbelievable. I knew she was hiding something from me from the very start when we moved here from Shibuya.

Tegaru: I'm sure she has a reason why she hid about her work as a communications officer at the Federation. By the way how did you meet Mirai?    

Aina: We go way back since we were kids, the time when my parents were killed. She found and rescued me when I was at our burning house. Ever since that day, she raised and stood as my sister over the years. We were from Shibuya, my parents' hometown.

Tegaru: No wonder she had to do it.    

Aina: Do what?

Tegaru: Keeping about her job in the Federation a secret. She doesn't want you to worry; she just wanted what's best for you. Heh, acting like a parent eh Mirai? Live it up.

Aina: Actually, she's my adoptive sister.

Tegaru: Wait what? For real? Like, she's your sister? 

Aina: Well, yeah, kind of. Like I told you she raised me like her own sister.

Tegaru: Lucky you, you have someone who looks after you.   

Aina: Yeah, crazy world. This day, *sighs* I don't know what's gonna happen tomorrow.

Tegaru: Hey you might never know something good or bad will happen. After all, war has finally begun once again.

Aina: War?Does that mean - - - - 

Tegaru: Our mobile suits need quick repairs as soon as possible before the enemy forces strike again. We don't know their movements yet. But once that old man starts spilling the beans, and then we know what'll happen next.

Aina: Does that mean more innocent lives will be lost?

Tegaru: That manner cannot be helped. Lives will be lost along the way. But I've tried my best not to.

A moment of silence took over for a while. After a few moments, Aina speaks up to Tegaru. 

Aina: Tegaru?

Tegaru: Yes Aina?

Aina: I think I've made up my mind and have drawn an answer to your question earlier.    

Tegaru: *smirks* Question? I don't remember asking you a question.

Aina: *smiles*Rather a proposal, perhaps?    

Tegaru: Ok I think I know where this is going.

Aina: I hope you're not getting the wrong idea. It's a YES, my answer's yes.

Tegaru: Piloting a mobile suit takes guts, you got guts. Are you sure?    

Aina: I'm 100% sure. Glad you didn't take the wrong idea though.

Tegaru: Very well then, if that's your final answer, you'll never regret your decision because you're in!

Aina: Really? 

Tegaru: Yeah, but let me remind you, before you go all out in a mobile suit you must undergo briefing and training to what and how to operate a mobile suit properly. Are you up to the challenge?

Aina: Heck yeah I am.    

Tegaru: I like that fighting spirit of yours. Your father must've been proud to see you like this.

Aina: Yeah, he would.

Time: 14:53 hrs.

Weather Condition: Windy    

After a few moments, a beeping sound came from the Dominion Gundam. As Tegaru jumps into the cockpit, the Dominion picked – up the reactors' signatures of 3 RGM-89Jegan units and 5 flatbed trucks inbound to their location. As Tegaru jumps out of the Dominion, he tells Aina the good news.    

Tegaru: I got some good news Aina.

Aina: What is it?    

Tegaru: We'll be picked up in a few minutes. They'll be taking us back to base.

Aina: Really?Well that's a relief.    

Tegaru: Once we get back to the Dominion's hangar, we'll get everything settled. After that, we'll chill.

Aina: Chill?    

Tegaru: You know, just chill, and relax. Food and drinks are on me. My private office in the hangar has food storage.

Aina: That sounds fun. I like that. Wait, you have your own office?    

Tegaru: Yeah, well, I asked for it just in case the apartment I currently live in get wrecked up, I'd go there and stay instead. By the way, it's not just us, Hiroshi, Heather, Enzo and Mirai will be with us.

Aina: Well, the more the merrier they say.

Tegaru: Amen to that. Also in addition, come with me.

Aina: To where? 

Tegaru: I have a good feeling that Dennis and his crew were retrieved and brought back to the base along with the other civilians for interrogation; I'll help you to put an end to your strife once and for all.    

Aina: What are you going to do, Tegaru?

Tegaru: Oh nothing, I'll just teach that jerk a good lesson, a lesson that he will never forget, and that is to respect you as a woman. You're not the only one who was once bullied by him.

Moments later, the 3 Jegan units and 4 flatbed trucks are approaching the Dominion Gundam's spot ready to bring back the mobile suits back to the base.    

Tegaru: Alright! Our ride's here!

Aina: Thank goodness. 

As the Jegans and the flatbed trucks stopped at the foot of the Dominion, one of the Jegan pilots contacted the Dominion.

Romeo 219: Ensign Tegaru Nishida this is Romeo 219, can you read me?   

*Tegaru jumps into the Dominion's cockpit*

Tegaru: Romeo 219 this is Ensign Tegaru Nishida, what took you guys so long?

Romeo 219: I apologize for that. We've picked up the Wing Gundam Fenice and the other damaged mobile suits back to base first. We had troubled loading the parts on the flatbed trucks.

Tegaru: It's ok. I know what's it's like to clean up the mess of someone's dirty work. Well then, hook up the Gundams and the Gouf and get us out of here. I'll help. 

Romeo 219: No need to, young ensign, you've done enough to help. But thanks anyway. Romeo 219, rolling out.

Tegaru: Ensign Tegaru Nishida, over and out.

*transmission ends**Tegaru gets out of the Gundam's cockpit*    

After Tegaru got out of the Gundam's cockpit, both him and Aina safely gets off the Dominion's torso as the Jegans load the Dominion onto one of the flatbed trucks along with its amputated parts.

Tegaru: Alright, now that the Jegans are loading the Gundams and the Gouf onto the flatbed trucks, we should be back to the base in 30 minutes or less.

Aina: That wouldn't take long. We can wait, but are you impatient? Like what Mirai said earlier?

Tegaru: A bit but I'm trying to control it. I have other work to do. But for today, maybe I can slow down for a while. I'll try to change my style from time to time.

Aina: Can you?

Tegaru: Hey, I said I'll try.    

A blue and white military jeep came to the site where the Tegaru and Aina are to come and pick them up.

Tegaru: Looks like our ride's here. Come Aina, we have some things to settle with before this day ends.

Aina: Roger that, Sir. *giggles silently*

As both of them got on, the jeep left the Jegans loading the damaged mobile suits onto the flatbed trucks and headed back to the base.

Soldier 1: Ensign Tegaru Nishida, good to see you still alive. But from the looks of it, you're beaten up pretty well.

Tegaru: Well, what can I say? You can't avoid to get busted once you're in a mobile suit.

Soldier 2: But in a Gundam in particular.    

Tegaru: Yeah. Most of the enemy's tactics are so simple, if there's a Gundam in the battlefield, you take them out first single – handedly or in groups.

Soldier 2: Well said ensign, you've really lived up the pilot the superiors knew you could be. 

Tegaru: But I'm still learning new stuff along the way. And speaking of which, I've learned about something.

Soldier 1: Oh do tell.

Tegaru: Gentlemen, I'd like you to meet Ms. Aina Kazuki. She's the lone daughter of the original Strike Gundam's pilot, Lt. Ronin Matsunaga.

Soldier 2: No way.

Soldier 1: Is she?

Tegaru: Yup, and one way she proved it, she kicked old man Ral's ass with the RX-78-2 earlier.

Soldier 2: Whoa, that was dope.

Soldier 1: Wicked sick! Did you have it on video?    

Tegaru: Sadly I didn't. I can't do a battle video record in the Dominion with its current condition.

Soldier 2: Is that so? We'll just have to wait another time to see her pilot a mobile suit then.

Tegaru: Actually, you two don't have to wait any longer, because in short time, she'll be one of us.

Soldier 2: For real?

Soldier 1: Young ensign, you can't just make that decision alone by yourself, you need your grandfather's approval for that.

Tegaru: Don't worry guys; I'll talk it out with him. Besides, she's the daughter of a former Gundam pilot, how can he say no to that?

Soldier 1: Well, I guess we just have to believe in that.

[Time Skip]

Time: 15: 19 hrs.

Location: Earth Federation Force Tokyo Base, Neo Japan

Weather Condition: Windy    

As the jeep entered the Tokyo Base's entrance gates, it took Tegaru and Aina near the Dominion Gundam's hangar and dropped them there.

Tegaru: Thanks for the ride boys.

Soldier 1: No problem, anytime for you.

Tegaru: You always did. Take care.    

Soldier 2: You too, both of you.

The jeep then leaves and heads to its other destination. Tegaru then leads Aina to the Dominion Gundam's hangar's entrance gates.

Aina: The people here are very nice.

Tegaru: Yeah, they are.

Aina: Just like what Mirai told me months ago before we moved here.

Tegaru: True. 

Aina: So where do we go now?

Tegaru: We go to the interrogation room where Amanda has the survivors held up. Though there are treated with care, they still have fear in their eyes to what they've seen. And I have a sneaky feeling the Dennis De Silva and his crew is not one of those in the interrogation room. But first, I'll have to check something in the hangar.

Aina: I'm sure they'll be in the room already. I mean, you guys can catch them easily right?

Tegaru: Not because we're the big cats doesn't mean we can catch the fastest and the nimblest rats here. We have our limitations.

Aina: Ok, I think I get what you mean.    

Tegaru: Besides, I know that this will sound crazy but, Dennis De Silva's also a mobile suit pilot affiliated with us, the Earth Federation Forces.

Aina: What?!     

Dennis: You got that right, punk.

As Tegaru and Aina heard Dennis' voice, they turned around and saw Dennis De Silva and his friends behind him. After Aina saw Dennis, she slightly moved and hid a bit behind Tegaru. Dennis is also holding a digital camera with him.

Tegaru: Dennis De Silva. You're not one of the best mobile suit pilots, Id' say you're still a novice at it.

Dennis: *smirks* Tegaru Nishida and with Aina Kazuki. What a surprise, the infamous "Red Devil" along with 'Pink Orphan'. You two look good together, for a pair of losers.

*Dennis and his crew laughs*

As Dennis and his friends laugh, tears from Aina's eyes slowly form and she slowly balls her hand into a fist. Before Aina could even go all out, Tegaru stopped her.

Tegaru: Don't, Aina. I'll handle this.

As Aina relaxes her fist and wipes away her tears from her eyes, Tegaru slowly walks up a bit to Dennis.

Aina: Tegaru, what are you up to?

Tegaru: Laugh all you want, you'll be achieving nothing out of this. 

As their laughter died out, Dennis steps forward to Tegaru. Tegaru just keeps his cool and stays calm.

Dennis: Us? Achieve nothing? *chuckles* I've achieved a lot of things as of today, boi. I caught you piloting the Dominion Gundam red – handed with this little friend of mine called a camera.

Tegaru: And so? You suck at photography, what will you do about it?     

Dennis: To prove to everyone who you really are.

Tegaru: I am much known to a lot of people, very powerful people, more powerful than you are, Dennis. To whom do you want to show it to? 

Dennis: Do you really want to know? Fine, I'll tell you. I'll show this to everyone else, students, civilians, and everyone else who had no idea who were the pilots behind those successful operations of the Earth Federations Forces of the Neo Japan Branch.

Tegaru: So in other words, you wanted to expose us to the innocent, that the Federation is acquiring teenagers or rather 'child soldiers' to pilot dangerous mobile suits and fight in battles.

Dennis: Nope, just you, Nishida.

Tegaru: Just me?

Dennis: Yeah, just you, I have no interest on the other of your friends being exposed even if the pink orphan (Aina) would be.

Tegaru: Why?     

Dennis: You've been stealing my spotlight ever since you came here. I was doing well in my mobile suit performance until you came in.

Tegaru: Let me get this straight. You wanted me exposed to the public as a child mobile suit pilot all because I out – bested you in piloting a mobile suit? It's not my fault that I'm a naturally skilled pilot; it's your fault that you're failing as a pilot. Don't put this on me, this is your problem not mine.

After to what Tegaru said, Dennis friends started to react to Tegaru's roast answer on Dennis.    

Friend 1: Ohhhhhh BURN!!!!

Friend 2: ROASTED

Friend 3: Shots fired, shots fired.

Dennis: SHUT UP!!! Listen Nishida, I had enough you!

Tegaru: Oh yeah? Well I am too.

*Dennis' friends react to Tegaru's roast once again*

Dennis: *sticks out his camera* with this camera, that everyone - - no, the whole world will know who's the pilot behind the legendary Dominion Gundam! 

Tegaru: I don't think so.

Dennis: What?

While Dennis has his camera sticking out to Tegaru, the camera blew up followed after a gunshot and was torn into pieces. As the remains of the broken camera fell down to the ground along with a 50 caliber bullet smoking, Tegaru looked to his left and gave a thumb up pointing at the terrace of a mobile suit hangar far away from them.

Dennis: What........the.....hell....?

As Aina looked to where Tegaru is pointing, she noticed Hiroshi with his sniper colored in green with the tip of its barrel smoking from a very far distance.

Aina: Hiroshi?

Tegaru: You can see him too from this distance? Wow, you got some sharp eyes.

Dennis: HOW DARE YOU?!

Tegaru: *smirks* Hey don't pin that on me, Hiroshi shot it, and I didn't.

Dennis: Now you've done it!

As Dennis pulls out a huge jack knife, the others pulled out their close combat weapons. The one in a grey hoodie took out a metal baseball bat; the one in a yellow and white shirt took out a pair of brass knuckles, and lastly, the one in a maroon polo took out a pair of tonfas.

Tegaru: I see you're very well – armed. Tonfas? Not the best weapon there is.

Dennis: Damn right. I knew a pair of tonfas is your weakness. Now you'll get what you should have got when you first got here, punk.

Tegaru: A pair of tonfas isn't even my weakness but alright then, bring it on. Aina, you might wanna stand back, this is going to be rough.

Aina: Be careful, Tegaru.    

As Aina walks back a few feet from Tegaru, Dennis' friends started to surround Tegaru as Dennis walks slowly toward Tegaru with the jack knife in position to kill.

Aina: I'm worried for him. I should at least do something to help.

As Tegaru closed his eyes, the boy with the metal baseball bat ran toward him from his behind and swung his bat. Before the bat could even make contact with Tegaru's head, he suddenly opened his eyes and grabbed the bat from behind, turned around and did a punch and kick combo attack disarming the boy from his bat.

After he disarms the boy with the bat, the boy with a pair of brass knuckles charged Tegaru doing a 5-combo attack but Tegaru just kept dodging each attack.

Aina: Be careful Tegaru!

Tegaru: No need to tell me that!

Dennis: Shut up you orphan, stay out of this!    

While Tegaru is in combat with the brass knuckle boy, Dennis flips his jack knife and ran towards Tegaru. As Tegaru notices Dennis' approach, Tegaru grips his opponent's wrists tightly; he threw him to Dennis' direction causing them to collide with one another.

Aina: Amazing.........

After that, the boy with a pair of tonfas swings one of his tonfa at Tegaru as he dodges it. After a few attacks he dodged, Tegaru was hit after he dodged the 7th attack.

As he fell down to the ground, the boy w/ the baseball bat rose up, picked up his bat and jumped high up with his bat in position to strike. Before the boy could hit Tegaru's head, Tegaru rolled to his right and the boy struck the bat hard down to the ground.

As Tegaru stopped rolling, he quickly stood up and did a combo of both side and crescent kicks to Dennis causing him to drop his jack knife. After Tegaru's combo attack, Dennis feels dizzy from Tegaru's kicks. Dennis makes a desperate move and did a random attack on Tegaru which he kept dodging.

As Dennis's right handballs into a fist, he was about to deliver a powerful punch but Tegaru blocked it with his right hand. After Tegaru blocked Dennis' punch, he gripped Dennis'fist so tight that he made Dennis scream out loud.    

Dennis: Damn you. Nishida!

Tegaru: Give it up already.

Dennis: NEVER!

Tegaru noticed the boy with a pair of tonfas running to his direction.

Aina: Tegaru watch out!

Just like what he did before, he grabbed Dennis' fist and threw him to the tonfa boy but the he just dodged Dennis as he fell hard to the ground.

Tegaru: Thanks for the lookout Aina!

As the tonfa boy jumped, he swung one of his tonfas down but Tegaru blocked it. He then punched the boy in the midsection causing him to drool out blood.

As the tonfa boy cramped himself and knelt down to the ground, the boy with the brass knuckles jumped from the tonfa boy's behind and attempted to punch Tegaru's face with one of his knuckles but Tegaru did a reverse roundhouse kick into the boy's face causing him to be unconscious as he fell to the ground.

Tegaru: Easy as lasagna. Damn, these guys are really persistent.    

Tegaru senses that something is coming towards him from behind. As he looked behind, he saw the baseball bat boy running towards him. As the boy swung his bat, Tegaru leaned back dodging the bat. Tegaru then gets back up and punched the boy in the face and did another punch and kick combo.

Tegaru: Looks like you want more. I'll give you more.

As Tegaru charged the boy, the boy swung his bat but Tegaru jumped up and kicked the bat away. As he's still in mid – air, he did a drop kick at the boy's head knocking him unconscious. As the boy fell down to the ground, Tegaru landed smoothly on the ground.

As he observed his opponents knocked down, he again senses Dennis from behind but this time his reaction was too late. Dennis slashes Tegaru's left arm where there he received some metal shrapnel from the battle earlier. Dennis then flips his jack knife and stabs Tegaru's right clavicle but not all the way through causing some of Tegaru's blood stain his attire.

Aina: TEGARU!!!!

Tegaru: Don't worry, comeback is real.

Dennis: Well not for you Nishida. I win.

Tegaru: Have you?

Dennis: NO! No comeback for you this time.    

Tegaru: We'll see about that.