Dreams Beyond The Cockpit

You know, Anonymous, when you’re flying a mecha at Mach 3, the adrenaline rush is incredible. But sometimes, in the quiet moments between missions or during those long nights when I can’t sleep thinking about my next operation… my mind starts to wander. People always talk about my accomplishments, my skills as a pilot, but what they don’t ask about are my dreams. And no, I’m not talking about becoming the greatest mecha pilot ever or following in my father’s footsteps to become a renowned general. I mean… real dreams. The kind that make you feel vulnerable just thinking about them.

So here’s something nobody knows: sometimes I dream of quitting it all. Not in a dramatic way, but just… waking up one day and deciding I want something different. Something simple. Like owning a small cafe where I can bake pastries all day and watch people enjoy them without worrying if they’re going to survive the next enemy ambush. Or traveling the world without having to worry about which battlesuit to pack or what diplomatic events to attend on behalf of the military. It sounds silly, doesn’t it? The daughter of General Shimikawa wanting to be a barista or a wandering tourist? But honestly, it’s these thoughts that bring me peace.

I guess what Anonymous should know is that even someone like me - with all these titles and responsibilities - has dreams beyond her job description. Dreams that scare me because they feel so out of reach from who everyone expects me to be. Do you ever have those kinds of dreams too? The ones you keep locked away because they don’t fit into your current life plan? Well… now you know mine. And maybe, just maybe, someday I’ll find the courage to pursue them for real instead of letting them exist only in those fleeting moments between sleep and duty.