Lena 86 Quotes

I never doubted that you’d reach our final destination. I worried that contacting you or coming to see you would make it seem like I didn’t believe you could do it on your own.” “You remembered.” “Of course I did.” Shin said it with his usual placid tone, as if it was nothing at all, but there were no other words in the world that could have made Lena happier. He’d remembered—he’d believed in her and that she would catch up to them someday. Lena bit her lip. If there was ever a time to say what needed to be said, it was now, and if she didn’t take the opportunity, she’d likely never be brave enough again.

Of course I will. I even wrapped it up all cute-like, with pink wrapping paper and a ribbon and everything. Even put a message card with a kiss mark on it that says, ‘To my darling Theobald’… Left it in the mailbox of the apartment he’s renting with his mistress.” It took Lena a while to decide whether she should feel bad for him or not.

…What does that subhuman filth think it is?” Lena felt the blood instantly go to her head.

I understand that you’re about to be very angry, but please, direct your anger only at me.” “I beg your pardon?” Suddenly, a thick voice bellowed out like a tank turret’s fire. “Take aim!” Lena braced herself as she turned to see… “Fire!

Well, Shiden is on my side, so don’t expect any honest answers out of her,” Lena scoffed. Shin’s smile deepened. “So you’re saying you did do something.

The other boys were one thing, but Lena couldn't let Captain Aegis act so friendly and unreserved toward Shin. Get your hands off him.

She remembered the blunt, youthful voice speaking to her from beyond the transmission crackling with noise. He never did give her his name, but she did remember the Personal Mark on the damaged armor... A headless skeleton shouldering a shovel. Realizing she'd seen that same personal mark only a moment ago, she turned her eyes to Undertaker again. The same headless skeleton shouldering a shovel didn't quite return her gaze, because of its missing head, but it was there all the same. The Personal Mark of a reaper burying the dead. A reaper... ...It can't be. Shifting her attention back to Shin—to the Processor who piloted that Reginleif - she gawked at him, which only resulted in Shin averting his gaze. Shin obstinately refused to look Lena in the eye. And that made Lena sure of it, "It was you...?!" Shin's eyes darted around for a moment, as if looking for a way out...before he dropped his shoulders in resignation. "...Yes, it was." In contrast to Lena's eyes lighting up, Shin looked away awkwardly. "I'm sorry... for back then." “... I never once doubted that you would catch up to us, Colonel.” "Huh…?" “I never doubted that you’d reach our final destination. I worried that contacting you or coming to see you would make it seem like I didn’t believe you could do it on your own.” "You remembered." "Of course I did." Shin said it with his usual placid tone, as if it was nothing at all, but there were no other words in the world that could have made Lena happier. He’d remembered—he’d believed in her and that she would catch up to them someday. Lena bit her lip. If there was ever a time to say what needed to be said, it was now, and if she didn’t take the opportunity, she’d likely never be brave enough again. "Shin." She called his name firmly. Shin turned to face her, closing the door to his room. Lena gave a dry cough before continuing. "Can we…can we call each other by our names? In public places there are appearances to keep up, so that’s not acceptable, of course, but whenever we’re not…" "Major." The Eighty-Six had called her by her rank before as a sign of their reservations. To signify their relationship as the oppressor and the oppressed. One was a white pig sitting safely behind the wall, and the others were proud Eighty-Six fighting outside it. An invisible line had been drawn between them, marking the fact that they weren’t close enough to pretend to be friends by calling one another by their given names. But she was finally outside the wall, even if she didn’t stand beside them on the battlefield.

Lena tore her eyes away from the smile Shin was unable to restrain and started walking away, her heels clicking against the wooden floor. She felt his presence quietly following her, half a step behind. The realization that he had a habit of moving without making a sound also made her oddly excited.

She opened the bathroom door and put on the RAID Device resting on top of her towel, activating the Para-RAID. The target was, of course, Shin, who was waiting in the corridor outside her private quarters. "Er, Captain…" The call was shut down wordlessly. She reconnected the Resonance and asked as soon as the call was connected: "Why did you hang up?" His response came in a disconcerted tone. "If anything, why did you Resonate now of all times?" “We were in the middle of a conversation.” "We can finish it later. At least wait until after you shower, please." Lena refused to back down. "Why can’t we do this while I’m in the shower?" "What do you mean, ‘why’…?" There was an exasperated pause between them, which Lena broke by persistently pressing him. "You were fine with it before. When you told me about the Black Sheep and the Shepherds, two years ago in the Spearhead squadron’s barracks, you, er…you were connected while you were in the shower." "Yes… But you don’t seem fine with it, so you don’t have to force yourself." That’s… Well, yes, she was quite embarrassed about this. Only their sense of hearing was being Resonated, but it gave the impression that they were face-to-face. Lena realized that this meant that her feeling of embarrassment over the situation was being directly transmitted to Shin, which left him feeling restless. And to top it off, the sounds of the running water and her breath, leaking out from the heat and the steam, as well as the sound of the water dripping from her long, satin-like hair, were also being transmitted. "But this time we can’t—Ah…" The Sensory Resonance ended again, and this time it seemed that he’d removed his RAID Device, since she couldn’t reconnect.

She poked her head out the door, but upon looking in the other direction, she found Shin standing there. Lena stiffened immediately. Shin was rooted in place with his eyes widened slightly upon seeing Lena wearing nothing but the Cicada. The purplish-silver quasi-nerve fibers formed a pseudo-brain that coated her body. And since it was skintight, it showed off her curves in a way that left little to the imagination. On top of that, certain parts of her body that had nothing to support them jiggled and swayed with her every move. And Shin was looking right at her. What followed was a long, long, awkward silence. "I heard Vika supplied you with something called the Cicada back in the United Kingdom," Shin said, breaking that silence. He had a cold, murderous gaze in his eyes. As if he was holding back a seething, bubbling rage rising within him. "I did think it was strange I didn't get any information about it... I can see why no one answered when I asked, and Lerche kept apologizing to me when we were in the Revich Base." Yes, it did make sense. Lena didn't want to wear this thing and didn't feel inclined to explain what it was, either. "When I asked Marcel, he ran away, saying he didn't want to die yet... Guess I should have taken matters into my own hands and questioned him right then and there." "Y-your own hands...? Weren't you two together in the special officer academy? You shouldn't torment him..." "Don't change the subject, Lena. This isn't about Marcel." Oh. I think Shin might be really angry. He drew close to her, so close that their noses were almost touching, which startled her and prompted her to lean back. A thought crossed Lena's mind as she frantically sought refuge from reality. It was the first time she'd seen him in such an openly foul mood. It was new, and it made her slightly happy. "No, er, I wasn't trying to particularly hide it, but...i-it is helpful. But it's just a little... It's... very…embarrassing." She heaved a single breath, as if letting out some kind of internal pressure. Shin silently turned around. "Understood. I'll go kill Vika and toss his body overboard." "Shin..?! Wh-what are you saying?!" "I left my pistol in the hangar, but I can make do with a sharpened shovel. The priest told me he used those to kill enemy soldiers in his youth.

Shin was on the front lines, and in the middle of fighting a Dinosauria. He d likely left the fighting to Raiden, Theo, and his other squad members so he could focus on providing reconnaissance for Shiden... But still, he was right in front of the enemy. One wrong step, and he'd have been killed. And yet she could sense Shin tightening his lips. He seemed oddly displeased, in an uncharacteristic show of emotion compared with his usual, indifferent self. He then parted his lips to speak, making no effort to hide that emotion. "No." It was the same voice she'd heard in the Revich Citadel Base, but this time, it felt firmer than before. Lena furrowed her brows. "That's an order, Captain." "I refuse." "Shin."" "I refuse that order. Are you even one to talk like that, Lena?" Lena realized that, at some point, she'd been set as the sole target o Shin's Resonance. And that he didn't call her by her rank, as was necessary in the middle of an operation...but by her nickname. "You were the one who ordered me to return safely. So wait for me. We can't complete that objective if we don't have anywhere to return to. So let us return...Lena." And at that moment, Shin was filled with something like indecision. Like hesitation. Like doubt... No. Pressed by an even stronger emotion, he fell silent. And with that emotion constricting his throat, he finally said those words, as if painfully coughing them out. "Please don't leave me." He sounded like he was imploring her. Like a child squatting on a mountain of corpses in the center of the battlefield, reaching out for a hand of light he could just barely make out. As if trying to grasp this hand that could disappear at any given moment. "I'll come back, for sure. So don't leave me behind. Don't tell me not to protect you when you're in danger... I don't want you-you, of all people-to order me to abandon you." "Shin...

“I’m sorry.” "Yes, I'm afraid you won't get away without a scolding this time, Captain... What happened? This isn't like you." "Ah, Your Majesty. I already gave him a talking-to about that, so don't chew him out too much." Shiden butted in on their exchange, but Lena ignored her. Being looking down upon left a bad taste in Shin's mouth, so he rose from the bed and put on his uniform's top. "My mind wandered... and I lost focus. It won't happen again." 'Lost focus'...?" Lena hesitated for a moment but eventually decided she needed to reprimand him as a commanding officer this time. She raised her fair eyebrows and spoke to him with a slightly severe gaze. "This is because of whatever's been bothering you lately, isn't it? That's why you tripped up. Am I wrong?" "…….” "I told you it'd be a problem if it ends up influencing the operation. I asked you to resolve this by attending further counseling sessions, or by consulting with me if you can't work this out on your own... I'll listen to you, no matter what you have to say. That's my duty... And that's what I want. You look like something's hounding you, like you're being pushed against the wall... Everyone's worried about you. And so am I.... What's wrong, Shin?" As she spoke, her grimace gradually softened, and she simply looked up at him earnestly with her argent eyes... But Shin averted her gaze. He couldn't tell her he was a harmful factor to the world she desired. That he was still headed for death instead of the future she wished for. That he didn't belong at her side right now, and that even though he wanted to change this, he didn't know how. He didn't want her, of all people, to know about the emptiness eating away at him from the inside. "Nothing." Lena grimaced anxiously. "You can't say that when you're making that face. Telling someone might make you feel better—" "There's nothing." "You're lying... You always say that, but you weren't fine, were you? If you're in pain, I wouldn't mind lending you an ear... No, I want you to tell me. I, um, want to support you, and... Shin grew irritated at their unproductive exchange and lashed out in a severe tone. "There's nothing... It has nothing to do with you, and I have nothing to tell you." And only then did he realize what he had said. Lena's large eyes widened, seemingly frozen on him. And then they moistened, as if a crack had run through those alabaster depths. "...Why do you say that?" Her voice contained a chill he'd never heard before. "You say there's nothing, but it's obvious from your face that something's wrong. You look like you're in pain, like you're in agony, but you never say anything. Don't you want to talk to me...? Am I really that unreliable? Am I really not good enough to help you? Aren't we...?" Tears spilled from her eyes and ran down her white cheeks. One after another. Shin looked on with shock as her tears flowed freely like water breaching a dam. He knew he had to say something, but his mind was reeling, and he failed to come up with anything. And as Shin remained speechless, Lena's expression crumbled in front of him. "Aren't we fighting together..?" Her question reverberated out like a scream for an answer, Lena turned around and ran

I can't lose her. I can't lose Lena, not here. Even if she's acting of her own accord, I can't let her die selfishly like this.

... I never once doubted that you would catch up to us, Colonel.

Lena bit her lip. If there was ever a time to say what needed to be said, it was now, and if she didn’t take the opportunity, she’d likely never be brave enough again. "Shin." She called his name firmly. Shin turned to face her, closing the door to his room. Lena gave a dry cough before continuing. "Can we…can we call each other by our names? In public places there are appearances to keep up, so that’s not acceptable, of course, but whenever we’re not…" "Major." The Eighty-Six had called her by her rank before as a sign of their reservations. To signify their relationship as the oppressor and the oppressed. One was a white pig sitting safely behind the wall, and the others were proud Eighty-Six fighting outside it. An invisible line had been drawn between them, marking the fact that they weren’t close enough to pretend to be friends by calling one another by their given names. But she was finally outside the wall, even if she didn’t stand beside them on the battlefield.

…I'm begging you, please come back.” That prayer escaped her lips before she even knew it. But it didn’t reach him. The way he was now, Shin couldn’t perceive that the girl was even there. Yet still. "Please… come back to me. Whatever it takes.” ... Half of his unit seemed to lop to the side, and Undertaker lost balance, falling to the ground pathetically. With his field of vision turning red and slanted from the blood, Shin watched as the High-Mobility type’s metallic shadow advanced to pursue him. It was then that he heard someone’s voice, like the chiming of a silver bell in his ears. "I’m begging you, please come back. "Please…come back to me.” Lena. "…?!" It took him a moment to realize it, but when he did, his breath caught in his throat. Had he just…? Lena… And the order she’d entrusted him with… Had he just completely forgotten about her…? Now wasn't the time to fall into bad habits. He'd been told to return at all costs, after all.

Is there anything you'd like to do once this war is over? Lena had asked him this several times already, and Shin still couldn't muster an answer. Not because he didn't have one— he did—but he couldn't bring himself to speak of it. I want to show you the sea. But that was a wish he'd made on his own, and he could no longer share it with Lena. He'd realized all it would do was hurt her. If he tried to be by her side as he was now, he would only cause her pain. He couldn't walk alongside her. And that was why he couldn't give his true answer. He didn't want to grab hold of the hand she was extending toward him. Lena's wish, her desire for everyone to achieve happiness, was one he couldn't grant. He would only weigh her down. So I won't wish to show you the sea. Never again.

So if the Republic was to refuse to fight despite that, then let them perish. Lena had decided she wouldn't be bitter and left her homeland behind because she chose to live with no regrets and nothing to be ashamed of. She chose a new homeland and the Strike Package.

“I’m a Republic soldier, and I have a duty to protect your lives. So if the alternative is that you fall out of line and die, I’d rather point this gunpoint and make you walk by force.” “Well if you're a Republic soldier!” someone in the crowd suddenly called out. “How do you get to ride in a Reginleif? If you’re a soldier and you’re supposed to protect us, you should be down here, walking with us!” Less a question and more an incredulous demand, like she'd expected them to say this. “Me? Why would I? Aren’t I the second coming of Saint Magnolia, who led the revolution? And it's a saint’s role is to guide her lost lambs, to save them. Not to share in their pointless march.” She looked over the helpless sheep and spoke, with the Eighty-Six who watched over her silently, with her dependable subordinates and trusted comrades at her back. "...I’m the Queen who leads the Eighty-Six, Bloody Reina. Isn’t it natural for a Queen to ride on horseback with knights at her back and call?” "...!" The citizens looked at her with silent but palpable indignation. “Undertaker. Grant me the honor of riding with you.” Lena ignored them and turned her eyes to Undertaker. It lowered its nose tip as a canopy, but Lena motioned for it to stop and grabbed onto the side of the unit instead. Like a silvery war goddess making her triumphant return atop a pure-white chariot.