It's a Noin-centric story where she remembers her fallen students
"Mommy?"
"Yes, Gabriel," said Noin as she looked through a catalogue for a birthday gift for Une. Ah, some scented soaps would be nice, she thought.
"Who are these people?"
She turned and saw that he was looking at her Academy year book of 195. "Where did you find this?"
"Downstairs." She knelt down next to him on the floor and saw the picture he was referring to. It was a picture of her and her class posing for a group photo. A few had beer mugs in their hands. The caption read "Lieutenant Noin celebrates with her class on their upcoming graduation."
"They were my students," she said.
"You used to be a teacher?"
"I used to be an instructor. I taught people how to use mobile suits."
"Oh, those are like tanks, right?"
"Sort of."
"Can I meet them?"
Pause.
"Mommy, why are you crying?"
"I'm crying?" Noin touched her face and looked at her hands. They were wet. "A lot of these people didn't survive the war, Gabriel."
She looked at each student in the picture. Alex, Mueller, Michael, Nami, Krishna, Alberto... She flipped to the inside jacket of the yearbook and saw their handwritten notes to her. Some of the handwriting was spidery, some of the lines were thick and almost sensuous, others were like a doctor's handwriting, almost indecipherable. Still others were bespoke of a calm and analytical nature, straight up and down, neat and almost angular.
Noin, you're the greatest, period. And when you finally dump the man in the iron mask, call me. I will always be waiting. - Alex
Sensei, hontoni arigato - Nami
Noin, the next time you're in Italy, drop by my house. I live just ten minutes away and I'll probably have my scooter all fixed up by then. Ciao. - Alberto
Noin, I can't believe Alex wrote that. Well, actually I can. I hope we make you proud. -Mueller
Make sure you get that promotion you so rightfully deserve! Don't take crap from anybody! Love & Peace - Michael
Noin wiped away her tears on her sleeve. "Gabriel... They were the best."
The End
(:./mk/rememberance)
