“What’s going on—Four-Eyed Tian ji^[1]Bullfrog is actually a handsome guy!” Levi pretended to be horrified, “Why do you wear those ugly glasses?”
“That’s my business!” Miller snatched his goggles back.
“Hey… hey… swimming like this is really boring. Why don’t we race?”
Miller didn’t want to acknowledge him, as if Levi’s presence had contaminated the entire pool. He was about to get out when Levi, still in the water—persisted, “No way, you’re scared to race with me? Afraid a major will lose to a corporal?”
“I’m afraid to race against you, a cockroach?”
“Cockroach? Where’s the cockroach?” Levi pretended he didn’t understand the metaphor, looking around for the cockroach’s traces.
“Let’s race then!” Miller jumped into the water, splashing Levi in the face.
The two of them gripped the side of the pool and, at some moment— dove back into the water together.
Don’t be fooled by Miller’s status as a scholar—the line of his back while swimming was smooth and powerful. The two swam side by side—creating splashes of water all around.
As he reached the opposite shore—Miller pushed himself up and looked around but didn’t see Levi’s figure. At that moment—nearing dinner time, the entire pool was empty. Miller seemed to realize something—“Bastard! You dare to play tricks on me!”
Thinking of Levi’s usual behavior, he must have taken the opportunity to get back at him—pretending to race with him and then slipping away!
Grimacing—Miller was about to leave when he suddenly caught sight of a figure floating on the water’s surface. His heart tightened in an instant, “Levi—”
Miller dove into the water, swimming hard toward the other.
Pulling Levi to the shor—he slapped his face vigorously, “Levi! Levi Van Pelt!” Seeing the other’s lack of response—Miller began standard rescue procedures.
After four or five compressions, Li Wei finally coughed up water, gasping for air—Miller threw him aside and sat down, exhaling sharply, “If you can’t swim, don’t risk your life!”

“Who said I can’t swim! I just didn’t expect to cramp up!” Levi’s throat was choked severely from the water. “Cramp up! Did you even warm up properly?” Miller continued to shout—his fair face flushed with anger.
“Of course I did! I just swam a lap without any issues—who knew I’d cramp up when racing with you.” Levi lowered his head and ignored Miller’s anger— massaging his calves.
“Then let me ask you, have you been eating properly lately?”
“Ah, eating! I didn’t have lunch! Now it’s dinner time! Let’s go eat!” Levi got up, limping a little, and reached to pull Miller—but the latter violently shook him off.
“Why don’t you just starve to death!” Miller ignored him and headed straight for the shower room.
Li Wei smiled awkwardly, following behind Miller.

“I won’t die that easily!” Levi said as he dug at his ear. Aside from the sound of water, Miller remained silent in the neighboring compartment.

“Okay, okay, thank you for saving me. Without you, I would have just soaked in the swimming pool until I fell apart…”
“Don’t be angry, alright? At most, from now on—whenever I see you, I’ll salute you… that’s my biggest concession… I wouldn’t even bother with Claude…” Levi said somewhat reluctantly.
Suddenly—the bathroom door was flung open, and Miller grabbed him and pulled him in front of him, “Do you even know what you mean to us?!”
“What?”
“It means one day the ‘Pristine Lady’ will soar into the sky! It means there will be aircraft comparable in strength to alien spacecraft! It means the first step to regaining air superiority! It means all the effort we’ve put in, those of us who can’t go to the battlefield!” Miller’s voice was not a shout—every word was clear but carried an inexplicable force.
Levi looked into his eyes and finally said, “Miller… you’re really beautiful…”
Two seconds later—Miller released Levi and let out a self-deprecating laugh.
“I must be crazy! I’m crazy for swimming with you! Crazy for saving you! Crazy for saying all this nonsense to you!”
“But only a madman could be that persistent.” Levi’s voice was calm, in stark contrast to Miller’s, “I’ve never been expected by anyone, Major. I’m not a bad kid— but I’m not a good one either. When my parents look at my report card from the Air Force Academy, their biggest wish is for me to give up. You know— the survival rate after aircraft go into action is two-thirds, and in their hearts—I’m just going to be the one-third that gets blown to pieces. I don’t understand why you place your hopes on someone like me.”
Miller closed his eyes, and time seemed to stand still, “You can’t possibly be that one-third because you are unique.”
Levi chuckled softly, resting a hand on Miller’s shoulder, “Now I believe you are the best mathematician in the entire K11 base.”
“Get yourself cleaned up, and then we’ll go have dinner. I’ll order the menu.”
“Yes, Major.” Levi pushed Miller out, “I’m going to close the door and shower now.”
Dinner was at a small restaurant near the swimming pool. Although the decor was average—the food was excellent. Miller ordered Levi steak, grains, freshly squeezed juice, and vegetable salad.
“Is it really necessary to go through so much trouble for just one dinner?” Levi frowned as he watched Miller put the fork in his hand.
“Trouble? If you hadn’t cramped up, none of us would have any trouble. You didn’t have lunch, and then you swam, which is physically exhausting. If you don’t replenish your nutrition now—I can just imagine you cramping up in the training pod tomorrow!”
“That’s quite the curse.”
“I’ll report your cramping incident to Major Sean.”
“What? I thought I was considering you a friend—how could you betray me?!”
“Correction—We have a superior-subordinate relationship—we are not friends.”
The next morning, when Levi entered Z-Zone, he saw Claude leaning against the Pristine Lady with his arms crossed, and in front of him was a food cart.
Smiling wryly—Levi knew that Miller truly didn’t regard him as a friend.
“I’m glad to see you didn’t button up your military uniform incorrectly today—but I’m not pleased that you skipped breakfast this morning. Of course, I won’t waste my breath educating you on the dangers of skipping breakfast since you won’t listen anyway.” Claude lifted the lid off the food cart—“So the entire Z-Zone has decided to watch you eat breakfast every morning.”
“Wow, you’re really something. You’ve turned my habit of skipping breakfast into a matter for the entire Z- Zone,” Levi sat down in front of the food cart and stuffed a large bite of pasta into his mouth—speaking incoherently. This breakfast was quite hearty, but the portion was just right—Levi didn’t feel bloated after finishing.
During today’s training, the Pristine Lady flew as smoothly as yesterday—but it struggled with some high-difficulty maneuvers that ordinary aircraft could perform quite well.
Miller—sitting in front of the computer, spoke softly, “Claude, so many pilots have failed to make the Pristine Lady fly as smoothly as an ordinary aircraft. Could it be that our design is the problem?”
“Don’t doubt yourself, and don’t doubt Levi.” Claude’s voice made Miller feel that all his doubts were unnecessary.
Even so—Levi still showed no progress in flying the Pristine Lady and seemed more exhausted each day. Normally, he would spar with Claude, but now, even when Claude said something to provoke him intentionally—he didn’t react.
A week later—Levi stood before Claude with his chin raised, declaring—“I want to take a break!”
“Okay.” Claude nodded.
“I want to drop out of training.” Levi looked as if he had thought this through thoroughly.
Claude laughed as if looking at a child, “Why?”
“Because I’m a fighter pilot! I want to go out and fight, not be a test pilot here!” Don’t be fooled by Levi’s usual nonchalant demeanor—he was not a patient person at all.
“I can give you a leave of absence, but whether you drop out of this training is not your decision to make.” Claude reached out and ruffled Lev’s hair—seemingly enjoying how soft it was, touching it a few more times.
Very unhappy, Levi stepped back and left the training room.
“He’s hit that bottleneck—just like all the pilots before him,” Miller said.
“But I know he will break through that bottleneck,” Claude scoffed, “I find it strange that I’m so convinced.”
The first thing Levi did when he returned to the dormitory was tell Lilith, “Stop bothering me, I want to sleep.”
He flopped into bed—covering his head with the blanket, but he couldn’t shake off the wakefulness. Every time he came out of the Pristine Lady’s simulation system—he felt drained, but this time, he didn’t feel sleepy at all.
After tossing and turning for more than two hours—he heard the emergency broadcast from the military.
“Attention all pilots! Attention all pilots! Invaders are attacking—please quickly proceed to your posts and prepare to engage.”
Levi jumped up— suddenly remembering what Claude had said he wouldn’t be equipping Lev’s aircraft with oxygen. Realizing this—he felt like a frostbitten eggplant, collapsing back onto the bed, then writhing in frustration, “Ah—why! Why?!”
At that moment, the broadcast rang out again, “Corporal Levi Van Pelt! Please stand by at Channel 2B!”
Levi rubbed his ears, confirming the broadcast repeated, and instantly jumped out of bed.
The entire corridor was filled with running pilots, and Levi was among them. When he arrived at Channel 2B— the mechanics and technicians had completed their work.
“Hey! Are you ready?!” the technician shouted.
“So soon? Didn’t they say ‘stand by’?” Levi was thrown directly into the cockpit.
“Because the damaged aircraft have been returned! There aren’t enough aircraft at the front lines!” After saying that—the hatch closed.
“Oxygen confirmed. Cabin pressure confirmed. Missiles confirmed. Laser missiles confirmed. System confirmed. Pilot in position.”
“Wait—” Levi wanted to say he had to relieve himself, but he didn’t get the chance. His aircraft roared off the runway and soared into the sky.
The sound of missiles exploding filled his ears—without any pause.

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Proofreader/Editor: meowrii