Chapter 52: Macross – Failed Launch
The bratty little cousin was tightly held in Monty Hill's arms, unable to move around, and could only listen to whatever arrangements were made for him.
Monty Hill thought to himself: No way am I letting Lynn Minmay and Hikaru Ichijyo meet directly.
With me standing guard, you can forget about seeing each other so easily.
Just then, the head of the VF-1 Valkyrie robot tilted forward, and the two-seater cockpit slowly rose up.
First, an empty seat extended out, followed by Hikaru Ichijyo's seat emerging from the top hatch.
Monty Hill immediately hugged the brat and blocked Lynn Minmay's view. Hikaru Ichijyo also saw Monty Hill through the window.
Inwardly, Monty Hill cursed Hikaru Ichijyo from the original story again—this was clearly a two-seater fighter, wasn't it?
And yet you didn't even think to let Lynn Minmay sit inside? Trash.
Totally incomparable with Saotome Aruto—scum.
Hikaru Ichijyo stood awkwardly on the shoulder of the VF-1 Valkyrie, unable to go up or down, not knowing what to do.
He looked at his VF-1 Valkyrie robot and shouted loudly:
"Excuse me, what is this?"
Monty Hill helplessly answered through the glass window:
"Are you stupid? This is the robot you're piloting."
Ignoring Monty Hill, Hikaru Ichijyo muttered to himself:
"Really? So it's true…
That's just too much! They actually turned an airplane into a robot."
The brat repeated excitedly:
"An airplane turned into a robot? What does that mean?"
Monty Hill sighed, exasperated:
"Minmay, this guy's brain is broken. He doesn't even know what he's piloting, and he's asking others.
We'd better stay away from him, otherwise we might catch his stupidity."
Hikaru Ichijyo, embarrassed by Monty Hill's words, explained:
"Well, actually, I also really want to know why the plane turned into this… I really don't get it."
Lynn Minmay couldn't help but ask:
"How is that possible? You're the pilot, aren't you? You don't even know what you're flying?"
Monty Hill could only sigh ╮（╯＿╰）╭. He couldn't stop fate after all—they ended up talking anyway!
Hikaru Ichijyo replied helplessly:
"I am indeed the pilot of this robot, but I'm not in the military."
Lynn Minmay asked in disbelief: "That's a lie, right? Then…"
Hikaru Ichijyo scratched his head: "How should I put this…"
Just then, the brat jumped in, pointing at him and yelling: "You're a thief!"
Inwardly, Monty Hill gave the brat a big thumbs up. As expected, the only way to handle a big brat like Ichijyo was with a little brat. Perfect.
Monty Hill immediately put on a stern face and added:
"Minmay, call the military right now and report that we've got a robot thief here—and he even damaged the robot."
Hikaru Ichijyo panicked and protested:
"I'm not a thief, I didn't steal this robot. I…"
He lowered his head to glance at the VF-1 Valkyrie and admitted:
"Well… it's true that a lot of parts are damaged…"
Lynn Minmay also stabbed him with her words:
"This robot must be really expensive."
Hikaru Ichijyo's expression stiffened instantly—he had no idea how to respond.
Just then, two transport trucks on the ground honked their horns and shouted:
"Hey, could you move out of the way? We need to get to the shelter!"
Hikaru Ichijyo quickly answered: "Got it, I'll move right away. Goodbye then."
Before Lynn Minmay could even say goodbye, Monty Hill cut in first:
"Minmay, let's head to the shelter too.
It's too dangerous here—the buildings around us are about to collapse."
Hikaru Ichijyo climbed back into his seat and re-entered the VF-1 Valkyrie.
But as he clumsily tried to maneuver, he crashed right into Lynn Minmay's house.
Monty Hill immediately grabbed Lynn Minmay and the brat, sprinting downstairs.
Thanks to Nami's reinforcement, the house managed to hold up a bit and didn't collapse instantly under the Valkyrie's weight.
But then Hikaru Ichijyo messed things up again—he suddenly fired up the thrusters.
The building couldn't withstand the force anymore and began collapsing.
Luckily, Monty Hill was fast—taking five steps in one stride as he dashed down the stairs, reaching the ground floor in no time.
But before they could escape outside, the VF-1 Valkyrie blocked the front entrance.
He, Lynn Minmay, and the brat were trapped inside.
Monty Hill couldn't help but curse inwardly—Hikaru Ichijyo, are you doing this on purpose? Good thing I reinforced the house, or we wouldn't have even had time to run—the two of us would've been crushed by you.
I was just about to let things relax, maybe let you two meet properly, and then you pull this crap.
Looks like I'll have to persist to the end—I absolutely have to sabotage any chance of you two being together.
Even if I handed Minmay over to you, you'd still dump her for Misa Hayase, wouldn't you?
Then again, in the original story, he did crush Minmay's house too—but not this badly.
Back then, it was only one room on the third floor. This time, both the second and third floors were gone.
Good thing I reinforced it—otherwise the first floor would've been gone too. And to top it off, you blocked the front door.
Hikaru Ichijyo, you bastard.
No, I should call you Ichijyo Street—a guy who casually wrecks an entire street.
If I didn't know the story, I'd really think you were trying to kill Minmay.
Still, Minmay really is lucky—surviving disasters like this again and again.
From inside, Monty Hill couldn't hold back and shouted at Hikaru Ichijyo:
"What the hell are you doing? Trying to kill us?"
Lynn Minmay also cried out beside him:
"Somebody, help! We're trapped inside!"
At that moment, a massive tremor came from afar. Monty Hill looked over—Macross itself was slowly rising.
But then, the ship's gravity-control engines detached from the hull, floating upward.
The Macross crashed heavily back onto the ground, causing an even bigger tremor—like a massive earthquake.
On the Macross bridge, Captain Global asked: "Is everyone all right?"
The crew responded: "We're fine."
Captain Global ordered: "Check the Macross for damage immediately."
"Yes, sir."
Even Captain Global couldn't help but complain: "This really is one terrible ship."
Misa Hayase replied: "Well, it was salvaged, after all."
Meanwhile, Monty Hill and the others were still trapped inside the first floor, waiting for rescue.
Two transport trucks pulled with steel cables, engines roaring, trying to drag the VF-1 Valkyrie away.
After a while, they finally managed to pull it aside—but it toppled over again, crashing into another building and wrecking it too.
Once the doorway was cleared, Monty Hill led Lynn Minmay and the brat outside.
Minmay's uncle and aunt rushed forward, crying as they embraced their child.
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