Chapter 117: SEED – Three People 3
When Tolle deliberately avoided the topic of Kira Yamato, he noticed Athrun's displeased expression. As expected, only when it came to Kira did his eyes light up.
"Kira's been doing pretty well recently. Last time, he didn't get punished too badly for letting Lacus go. It was us who had to clean toilets for a week."
Athrun let out a sigh, looking somewhat relieved as he said, "As long as he's okay."
Cagalli, linking arms with Tolle, tilted her head in puzzlement and asked, "This guy is really Kira's partner? Hard to believe."
"Yeah, according to Kira, they were best friends as kids. Remember Kira's mechanical bird?"
Cagalli nodded that she did, and Tolle continued.
"I heard it from Kira himself—well, overheard, but that still counts—that mechanical bird, Torii? Athrun built it with his own hands and gave it to Kira."
(Heh, I overheard Kira and Lacus say it themselves. That counts as hearing it directly from Kira, right?)
Cagalli gasped. "No way, really?"
"Mm. Back when we were in space, we were constantly chased by ZAFT and those four Gundams.
Kira was always so troubled and torn—because his friend was piloting the Aegis Gundam."
At the mention of Kira's constant turmoil, Athrun's expression turned sorrowful too. As expected, he really did love Kira.
Tolle decided to prod him further, and maybe provoke Cagalli a little as well, just to satisfy his own malicious amusement. So, he brought up Flay.
"But Kira's been doing much better lately. In fact, he's even in love now."
He glanced at Cagalli before continuing, "It's Flay Allster, the red-haired girl you've seen before."
At the mention of that red-haired girl, both Cagalli and Athrun's expressions shifted, as though their favorite toy had been snatched away. Their faces turned stricken, as if they might collapse.
Tolle found this hilarious and decided to spice things up even more, just to see what kinds of reactions he could draw out. After all, in the original timeline, Athrun had killed his former self with his own hands. Without taking a little revenge in advance, his heart couldn't feel at ease.
Winning Cagalli over was only the first step of revenge. Of course, if he could win Lacus too, that would be perfect—all grudges avenged.
So he went on dropping bombs on Athrun.
"Sigh, that Flay's father, George Allster, was the Deputy Director of the Eighth Fleet. He was also a member of the fleet's vanguard—destroyed by you personally. So… in the future, between you and Kira…"
Tolle trailed off, but Athrun's expression twisted as though he might burst into tears at any moment.
Inside, Tolle sneered: Heh, be heartbroken, be miserable. Your true love's been stolen by your enemy. Serves you right!
Hearing this, Cagalli suddenly realized, blurting out, "So doesn't that mean the two of them turned from best friends into sworn enemies? I didn't think it ran this deep."
That last line was like the finishing blow—Athrun suddenly broke down crying.
Tolle figured Cagalli's words—"from best friends to enemies"—had completely shattered him.
Packing up his things, Tolle got ready to take Cagalli with him to find that cave from the anime, leaving Athrun behind in his misery.
Cagalli asked, "Is it really okay to just leave him here? And are those bindings really secure? Won't he escape?"
Tolle couldn't help but sigh inwardly—finally, Cagalli's brain was working. He explained, "Don't worry. Let him cool off. He can't escape. Those aren't ordinary ropes—they're made of a special metal, incredibly strong.
Besides, look at him—crying like that. Let him vent. I've no intention of comforting an enemy."
Cagalli agreed, and the two of them left, leaving Athrun to weep alone.
On the Archangel, Natarle speculated to Kira inside the Strike Gundam's cockpit.
"They must have already sent a distress signal. But with interference this severe, nothing can get through.
There are many small islands within range. Maybe they landed near one of them."
Murrue gently said to Kira, "Kira, I know you're exhausted too. I really feel bad about it."
Kira answered earnestly, "I'm fine, don't worry about me."
Murrue went on, "Even if you don't find any clues, you must return in two hours. At that point, we'll reconsider other options.
I know it's hard not letting you rest properly, but… you must return within two hours."
"I understand, Captain Ramius. I'll be back on time."
With that, Kira launched, diving into the sea to begin searching for Tolle and Cagalli.
On the island, after Tolle and Cagalli checked the Aegis and the Skygrasper, they found neither could function properly, nor could they receive communications.
Still, Tolle dropped the Aegis's distress beacon into the sea.
As for the Skygrasper, that was deliberate sabotage on Tolle's part. After all, returning first was fine, but leaving Athrun stranded wasn't necessarily ideal either.
Just then, rain began pouring from the sky. Tolle suddenly remembered: if Athrun stayed bound, he might drown. He recalled that in the original story, Cagalli had nearly drowned, only to be saved by Athrun. Better to play it safe and check.
Bringing Cagalli with him, Tolle returned to where Athrun was bound. Sure enough, the tide was rising fast, close to submerging him.
Tolle grabbed Athrun and hauled him out of the water. Seeing his dazed eyes, Tolle gave him a few light but firm slaps across the face.
"Hey, Athrun, you okay?"
Athrun, face stinging and tears still on his cheeks, had no choice but to answer helplessly, "I'm fine. I'm just fine."
After all, how could Tolle mean him harm? He had just saved him. Clearly he wasn't such a bad person.
Tolle then dragged Athrun to another cave, far from his own.
There, he loosened part of Athrun's restraints—enough so he could eat and relieve himself, but not enough to walk.
Of course, removing the rest was impossible. These bindings were made from mutated DG cells—thinking you could undo them yourself was pure fantasy.
He left Athrun some food and water, told him he'd already launched the Aegis's beacon, and said he should just rest there in peace.
Then Tolle and Cagalli returned to their own cave in the pouring rain.
Inside, Tolle quickly built a fire and rigged up a rack to dry clothes. Hanging up his own wet clothes, he pulled out a blanket and said to Cagalli,
"Cagalli, you should dry your clothes too. Wearing them wet will make you sick."