Macross 30: Voices Across The Galaxy

Interlude 3: Mina's Secret Concert

It was the day after the fight with the mysterious blue Valkyries. Since their own variable fighters had taken a bit of damage in the fight, particularly Aisha's there wasn't much for the Gefion crew to do.

Rion found himself chatting with Alto as they walked down a corridor after putting in some sim time. He found that it was a bit easier to talk with Alto, despite his status as a hero of the Vajra War. Maybe it was because Alto was closer to his own age and didn't have the same penchant for alcohol that a certain other pilot did...

"I've been wondering since we met but you wouldn't happen to be the same Alto Saotome of the Saotome Theater Troupe?"

"Tch, you know about that?" replied Alto, frowning.

He'd hoped that nobody outside of the Frontier fleet would recognize him from that part of his life but it seemed that had been a fool's hope.

"Yeah. My dad was a big fan of classical Japanese theater, like Noh and Kabuki and we ended up watching a broadcast of one of your plays."

Rion was surprised that Alto seemed upset that this had been brought up. After a few moments Alto sighed and said, "I left the stage and I no longer have any connection to the Saotome Family."

"That's too bad," Rion replied after a moment, "Despite that, even when you fly it has that kind of beauty you had on the stage."

Alto didn't respond and Rion winced a bit, realizing that he had opened an old wound. In an attempt to lighten the mood, he changed subjects.

"I heard a lot of rumors about the Vajra War but how did you get mixed up with a famous pop idol like Sheryl?"

"My high school flight team and I were performing at her concert. The next thing we knew the Vajra were attacking us for the first time..."

As Rion and Alto made their way to the hangar, the first strains of a song could be heard echoing through the cavernous space. At first, Rion thought it might be Sheryl but as they entered the hangar, both he and Alto realized that it was someone else, although they weren't the only ones attracted to the mysterious singing.

The person who was singing was, in fact, Mina. She was standing in the cockpit of her VF-11C Thunderbolt, having been adjusting some of the systems. Her Thunderbolt was parked next to a side loading hatch, currently open to allow some airflow from outside. An island bird had flown in, maybe looking for some shelter from the sun outside and, almost like it had been attracted to the melodic voice, came to rest on Mina's outstretched hand.

Dorekurai no yoru o

tsuranete kita ndarou

eien no hate nani o negau no

Mina tailed off as the bird took flight again but she nearly jumped out of her skin when the sound of clapping thundered through the hangar. She whipped around to see Alto, Sheryl, Roy, Aisha and Rion applauding her. Aisha was also holding up her cat-shaped smart phone in a manner that suggested she'd been taking pictures.

"That was a nice song, Mina-chan," said Sheryl, smiling up at the now very embarrassed bluenette.

"It had a beautiful melody," added Alto.

"Maybe you should have been a singer instead of pilot!" said Roy, chuckling slightly.

"And don't worry, I recorded it all on video," Aisha said, winking at Mina.

"Seems you impressed everyone with that song," said Rion, who at this point, was just adding fuel to the fire as Mina's entire face went red.

"Eh, I, um..." she stammered. Being praised by everyone so suddenly, especially Sheryl Nome, seemed to have short-circuited her brain.

"Hehe, she's so embarrassed and cute. Sing it again from the beginning!" said Aisha, struggling to speak and not giggle.

"I can't do it if everyone's watching!" cried Mina.

"Ah, but you'll never be able to sing on a stage if you can't do it in front of your friends," said Sheryl, shooting Mina a knowing wink.

Before Mina could respond to that, Aisha held up her phone again.

"It's ok, it's ok, just pretend we're not here and start singing again!" said Aisha, as she held up her phone and adjusted the zoom to get a better angle on Mina's still-flaming face.

"I can't!" moaned Mina, lowering herself down into her Valkyrie's cockpit.

If she had ever heard the phrase, 'wishing a hole would open up and swallow me,' she'd be saying it now.

At least Sheryl had complimented her!

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A/N: Mina is singing part of the second verse of "Planet Cradle," the Opening Theme for Macross 30. Check it out here: https://youtu.be/VRXTFzC9fu8?t=121