The humid air of Naha, Okinawa, hung heavy with the scent of sea salt and anticipation. It was finally the month of the Obon festival, and the city was transforming before my eyes. As we walked through the streets this afternoon, the transformation was nearly complete; paper lanterns swayed gently above the roads, and the skeletal frames of food stalls were being fleshed out by busy vendors. It wasn't just the locals who were buzzing; foreigners and tourists alike seemed caught up in the impending magic of one of Japan's most famous cultural celebrations.
Even the military presence felt different today. I saw Commander Emiya and other personnel from Naha Base moving through the crowds, coordinating with local police to ensure the festivities would go off without a hitch. Aaron, Emma, and I were also out, ostensibly to survey the situation for tomorrow.
"Ooooh, the people of Okinawa have already prepared the food stalls!" Aaron exclaimed, his eyes wide with genuine amusement. "There's so much food, and look at the lanterns... they're everywhere".
I nodded, feeling a rare sense of peace. "The festival doesn't even start until tomorrow, but the energy is already electric".
Emma, ever the fountain of knowledge, adjusted her gaze toward the horizon. "People from all over Japan look forward to this. While the Obon festival has roots in religious rites, these days it also serves as a social gathering where attendees can experience Japanese culture and enjoy live entertainment from musicians and dancers. For the Japanese, it's also a chance to return to their hometowns, spend time with family, and perform customs that have existed for centuries".
I looked at her, a pang of curiosity hitting me. "...Spend time with family... Emma, are you going back to Kobe for the festival?".
She shook her head with a small smile. "No, Lydia. It's only three days. I usually wait until December to head home for Christmas Eve".
"By the way, Emma," Aaron chimed in, "can you explain what 'Obon' actually means?".
Emma explained that Obon (お盆), or simply Bon (盆), is a series of Japanese ceremonies and traditions held to welcome the visiting spirits of ancestors. These observances generally take place around July 15th according to the Tempō calendar (a lunisolar calendar). While Obon is widely recognized as a custom associated with Japanese Buddhism, many of its traditions cannot be explained by Buddhist dogma alone. In its current form, Obon is a syncretism of ancient Japanese folk traditions and a Buddhist ritual known as 'Urabon".
"It's diverse," she added. "Traditions vary by region and Buddhist sect. In the Kansai region, they have 'Jizōbon' shortly after. And because of the transition from the Lunar to the Gregorian calendar, some places like Tokyo celebrate in July, while most of Japan—like here—celebrates in August".
"Ooooh, I see," Aaron said, nodding as he absorbed the history.
Emma's eyes suddenly twinkled with a new idea. "By the way, have you two ever worn a Yukata before?".
"Yukata? Nope," Aaron admitted.
"I've never worn one either. Why?" I asked.
"It's a tradition to wear them during the festival," Emma explained. "Men, women, young and old wear Yukata during the Bon Odori dance festival. You don't need to buy one; you can just rent it. There's a shop nearby".
We soon found ourselves in a rental shop filled with a dizzying array of patterns, colors, and sizes. Aaron chose a simple light green yukata that fit him surprisingly well. Emma, with her model-like stature, looked absolutely gorgeous in a fancy, vibrant design yukata she picked.
Then there was me. Emma had picked out a beautiful Yukata for me, However, as I tried on the one Emma picked for me in the changing room... I realized I had a structural problem.
"Um, Emma? I... I need help," I called out tentatively.
"Is something wrong, Lydia?" Aaron asked from the other side of the curtain.
"Wait, Aaron! Please call Emma! T-This is a women-only problem! Don't look!" I stammered, my face heating up.
Aaron called Emma, and she entered the changing room. When Emma stepped inside, she went speechless. My chest was simply too large for the standard Yukata she had selected. With a determined sigh, she began hunting through the racks for the wider sizes—LL, 3L, even 4XL—and searched for a specific Obi and a 'Yukata Bra' to compress my chest so it wouldn't bulge and create the traditional flat silhouette required for the garment.
Finally, I stepped out of the changing room wearing the Yukata Emma had helped me with. When I finally emerged, Aaron's face turned a deep shade of crimson.
"H-how do I look, Aaron?" I asked, looking at my feet.
"I—It's gorgeous, Lydia. Truly pretty, You look very pretty in a Yukata." he managed to say, still blushing.
"T-thanks," I hid my face, feeling the heat rise in my own cheeks.
"All right, it's settled," Emma declared. "We'll rent these for the final day of the festival so we can truly enjoy the moment".
We reserved the Yukatas for the third day of the festival and We returned to our duties, patrolling the streets in our uniforms and checking the area, looking for hidden spots that could potentially be used for a Zeon surprise attack. Despite the festivities, we had to remain vigilant. The surveillance cameras and local police reports showed nothing suspicious, but the tension remained beneath the surface. At sunset, we all returned to the base under Commander Emiya's orders.
As the sunset painted the sky orange, we returned to Naha Base under Commander Emiya's orders. Even inside the base, the festival spirit was alive; we could hear the thunderous rhythm of the Eisa folk dance practice coming from the gym. Personnel like Kisaki and Kyosuke were volunteering, giving their all for tomorrow's performance.
In the hangar, Aaron and I performed a final check on our machines. The Mobile Suits were on standby, equipped with live ammunition in anticipation of a Zeon Remnant invasion. My Zaku II F2 was no longer mine following the damage it took during the mission in Tomigusuku; it had been replaced with an RGM-79 GM equipped with a shoulder cannon and a beam rifle. With a beam weapon like this, I was certain I could take down Zeon amphibious Mobile Suits.
"With this, you shouldn't have any more problems with the Zeon Remnants, right?" Aaron asked, standing beside me.
"Exactly, Aaron," I replied while looking at the GM. "When the enemy uses beam weapons and those dangerous claws, the GM's beam weaponry is a better match. The beam saber is also much more effective against amphibious units than the solid weapons of the Zaku II F2".
A mechanic approached us and added, "The Zaku II F2 is being used for new recruits now, Lieutenant Lydia. It has great mobility, but it still loses out on firepower against Zeon units with sharp claws and beam weapons".
"It's thanks to you that we had a vacant Mobile Suit left," I said. "I really had difficulties facing those amphibious units one-on-one".
"But if the Zeon Remnants attack during Obon, the festival will turn into total chaos," the mechanic noted. "For us mechanics, we can't enjoy the festival; we have to stay at the base".
"I'm sorry to hear that," I said. "It's just a three-day festival, but I know Japanese people hate to miss Obon".
"That's okay, Lieutenant. The crew is used to it," the mechanic replied.
Leaving the hangar, I went to my dorm to wash off the sweat. I couldn't stop thinking about Aaron's reaction to me in the Yukata; remembering his blushing face made me blush all over again. I really wanted to see the festival on the last day and wear that Yukata with him. After my bath, everyone headed to the mess hall for dinner, including those who had finished Eisa rehearsal. I sat with Aaron, and coincidentally, Kisaki and Kyosuke took the empty seats across from us. Aaron, ever the provocateur, gave me a look before leaning toward Kyosuke.
"Kyosuke, you nervous for tomorrow?".
"A bit, Captain. It's my second time, but performing at night is always different," Kyosuke admitted.
"Well, it shouldn't be a problem since Kisaki is with you, right?" I added with a smirk.
Both of them jumped. "L-Lieutenant Lydia! What are you talking about?" Kisaki squealed.
"We saw you two training in the gym late at night. Just the two of you," I teased. "Aaron and I saw you together".
"You really did a good job, Kyosuke. You finally asked Kisaki out," Aaron said, joining in the teasing.
"W-well... it was thanks to Captain Aaron's push," Kyosuke confessed. "I decided to man up and tell Kisaki my feelings, even though it was shocking at first. I wanted to surprise the Captain tomorrow, but you two already found out".
"Kisaki, what did you do when he asked you out?" I asked.
"I... I said I was sorry, but I didn't decline his feelings! I was just surprised. I gave him my answer the next day... and I accepted him," Kisaki said, her face bright red.
"Hmmm, so you finally asked her out, eh, Kyosuke?" Captain Isao arrived and noticed the conversation.
"Ca-Captain Isao?!" Kyosuke stammered.
The situation became awkward as Isao announced to the mess hall that Kyosuke had asked Kisaki out. The other male personnel grew a bit jealous that Kyosuke had made a move, and the couple's faces turned beet red as everyone teased them. After dinner, Aaron and I went to the rooftop. Looking out at the city lights, we saw the paper lanterns waiting to be lit for tomorrow night.
"The Naha city lights are pretty from here," I said.
"They are," Aaron agreed, looking at me. "But I really want to see what the festival looks like tomorrow. And I want to see you in that Yukata again, Lydia. You looked stunning".
"You'll see it on the last day," I promised, gently touching his nose. "We'll have our moment".
"Ahaha, I really can't wait," Aaron replied.
The next morning, the first day of Obon finally arrived with a flurry of activity. Okinawans were busy cleaning their houses and preparing for the festivities. While Obon is not a national holiday, it is one of the longest and most important holidays in Japan. Most companies and offices close for three to five days so people can return to their hometowns, though large retail shops and restaurants remain open. Hotel prices were sky-high due to the influx of tourists.
At Naha Base, the final rehearsals Eisa performers were underway, including Kisaki and Kyosuke, held their final rehearsal. Commander Emiya held discussions with local police, Emma and Ohara were at the docks checking the Aqua GMs, while Isao had headed to the Shikina-en to visit the Koga cemetery. Aaron and I were in the hangar, and he made sure I had my phone's tracking activated in case we got separated in the crowds.
By evening, the performers moved into the city, followed by personnel piloting a Guntank and a GM. The city was a sea of people and sound. The folk instruments played loudly, and the smell of street food was everywhere. Aaron, Emma, and I were part of the ground crew monitoring the situation. The city was packed; folk music filled the air, and food stalls were swarmed by locals and tourists.
"Woah, it's so crowded here!" Aaron said, amazed.
"This is the Obon festival, Aaron," Emma replied. "People want to experience this".
"No wonder tourists come to Japan; it feels so alive," I remarked.
"This is just the first day," Emma noted. "The last day gets even more crowded".
We walked around, not just to enjoy the festival, but to watch for any suspicious activity from Zeon Remnants or terrorists. But the festivities were short-lived for me. In the crushing density of the crowd, I became separated from Aaron and Emma. I moved toward a less crowded hallway street, checking my tracker, when I saw a familiar face: Masao, the mechanic who usually worked on Aaron's G-Line. He had told us he'd be stuck at the base, yet here he was, moving with a suspicious, hurried gait. I followed him into a quiet alley, and my heart stopped. Masao was meeting with a group of Zeon Remnant soldiers and a man I recognized from Isao's briefing: Zuckerberg. I ducked behind a crate, quietly began recording their conversation on my phone as proof that Masao was a spy.
"Here is the data for the new RX-81 G-Line, Major Zuckerberg," Masao said handing over a drive. "It's piloted by a Newtype, so you might have trouble stealing it. I can't help you as much as I did with the previous hijacking like last time, but this info is solid".
"I see. Replaceable armor... a fine Federation suit," Zuckerberg replied. "Back then, you gave me great information about that Gundam and saved me. To be honest, I felt like a king piloting a Gundam".
"My pleasure, Major," Masao replied to Zuckerberg's praise. "Shall we start?".
"Yes," Zuckerberg smirked. "We are on schedule to cause chaos at this festival, Private Masao," Zuckerberg declared. "The meeting is over. We will launch a surprise attack for the glory of Zeon".
I was reeling. Masao was a spy. He was the one who had shot Koga, not Zuckerberg. I had to get out, I needed to run and find Aaron-
"MMMPH?!"
Suddenly, someone grabbed me from behind and covered my mouth, a massive hand clamped over my mouth from behind.
"Major, we have a Federation spy here," a soldier growled, dragging me toward Zuckerberg and Masao.
Zuckerberg looked me up and down. "Well, well. A Federation soldier snooping around. That's not good," Zuckerberg sneered.
"What should we do with her? She has a hot body and a nice chest," the soldier said, looking at me with predatory eyes while I struggled.
"She'll make a fine hostage. Tie her up and put her in the truck," Zuckerberg ordered.
They dragged me into the back of a truck and tied my hands behind my back and my legs with rope so I couldn't struggle. Just then, I heard a familiar voice.
"LYDIA!" It was Aaron, arriving with Emma. had found the alley.
"Aaron, help!!" I screamed, but before I could say more, a thick strip of tape was slapped over my mouth.
"Fuck! Take her and abort! The mission is blown!" Zuckerberg shouted.
The truck roared to life, The Zeon soldiers piled into the truck to escape. I saw Aaron chasing after Masao, who fled in the opposite direction, but the Zeon soldiers were already pulling away with me inside. I was kidnapped, forced into a seat with my limbs bound and my mouth taped, flanked by two soldiers. The feeling of being kidnapped triggered a horrific memory from when I was 18. I had been walking home to my hideout when I was stopped by strangers, dragged into an alley, gagged, tied, and raped by six men. The way these soldiers were looking at me now—with that same desire for sexual pleasure—sent me into a traumatic panic. Sweat dripped from my body as I trembled.
"We have a great hostage, Major. A hot woman," one soldier stare at me.
"Look at those legs, those hips, that chest... I really want to fuck her," another added also stare at me.
"Just look at her... massive breasts... those legs, I can't wait" one soldier muttered, his hand reaching out to touch my thigh.
"MMMPH!! MMMMMNH!!!" I thrashed, my eyes wide with terror.
"Hold your lust, soldiers" Zuckerberg snapped from the front. "You can do whatever you want with her after we deal with the Feddies".
The truck eventually drove into the belly of a 'Jukon'-class submarine. I was dragged out and placed in a cold prison cell at their hideout on Tokashiki Island. They tied me to a chair, and the two soldiers remained, their eyes dark with intent.
"I can't wait anymore, I want her so bad," one said lustfully.
"Me too. Her body is giving me a boner. I want to suck those breasts," the other said, reaching out to grope me.
Suddenly, a siren blared throughout the complex. The soldiers cursed, alerted to an incoming attack and rushed out. They locked the jail door, leaving me alone in the dim light. I struggled against the ropes, pulling until my wrists bled, but they were too tight. Exhausted and trembling, I slumped in the chair and I eventually ran out of energy.
(Aaron, please... save me...).
To be continue.