Victory Palace
Midnight. Narita International.
The limo's engine idled like a beast waiting to pounce. The door swung open, and out stepped Cobra Commander—Logan—his gloved hands dripping with blood, the crimson smearing across the polished black of his uniform. His iconic mirror-shined mask caught the dim airport lights, casting sharp glints like the glare of a predator's eye.
He moved up the estate stairs like a ghost. Silent. Heavy.
Inside, Euphemia stood in a silk robe, anxiety etched into every movement.
"Brother?" she asked, voice trembling.
Logan didn't stop. "Not now," he growled, brushing past.
But her hand caught his arm. The blood on his gloves smeared her fingers.
"Brother… why are you bleeding?"
He froze. Turned. A long pause.
"It's not mine," he said flatly. "A noble ran his mouth. I shut it."
Euphemia recoiled slightly but said nothing more as he disappeared down the hall.
His Room. Locked. Silent.
The coat hit the laundry basket. Then the gloves. Then the shirt.
Underneath: a scarred and burned torso—muscle rippling under damaged skin. He stared into the bathroom mirror, steam curling around him like ghosts from a graveyard.
"How long has it been... since I killed with my bare hands?"
Blood ran from his fingers into the porcelain sink. His eyes met his own through the mirrored visor. Cold. Empty. Focused.
Mao.
He'd thought himself untouchable. His Geass read minds.
But Logan had shown him what real fear looked like.
"Geass… overrated."
He took off the mirror-mask, revealing a face warped by flame and fury. Then reached for the other one—sleek, white, full-cover with an air filter and voice modulator. He slid it on, exhaling slowly.
From under his pillow, he pulled a pistol. Still there. Still ready.
He smiled beneath the mask.
Sleep came easy.
Ashford Academy — 8:30 A.M.
The limo doors parted. Logan stepped out in his military field dress—midnight blue coat with gold accents, boots polished like obsidian, and his new breathing-mask obscuring his face completely.
All eyes turned.
Then, shockingly—cheers.
A swarm of students came rushing over, firing off questions like bullets.
"Are you really the Cobra Commander?"
"How do we join Cobra?"
"Can I shake your hand, sir?!"
He blinked behind his visor. This… isn't what I expected.
His eyes darted to a large poster on the academy wall.
His face. His name. A slogan:
"Command Your Future — Join COBRA!"
"Destro…" Logan muttered through gritted teeth.
He raised a hand, silencing the crowd with a single motion.
"Cobra appreciates your support. But enlistment is 18+. Finish school. The world will still be waiting."
Disappointed sighs. Still—they respected him. Admired him.
As he walked through the courtyard, the buzz around him was electric.
"Milly's running another dumb blind date..." a voice mumbled.
That caught his attention. But only briefly.
He soon spotted her—Milly Ashford, laughing with Lelouch beneath a cherry blossom tree. The light wind scattered petals in slow motion. Lelouch looked sharp, quiet, calculating.
Logan made a mental note: Zartan was right. Ladies' man.
Then—
"My Lord!"
Shirley Fenette, beaming, raced over and grabbed his hand.
"I just wanted to say—it's an honor to meet you!"
He paused. Wait… shouldn't she be afraid of me?
Her memory of the funeral. The train. All gone.
"Thank you," he said cautiously.
"C'mon—you have to meet Milly! She'll love you!"
Before he could object, she pulled him straight into the whirlwind.
Milly & Lelouch
Milly blinked. "Whoa. Shirley brought me the Cobra Commander?"
"Yep!" Shirley chirped. "Same guy from the train. And… my dad's funeral."
Logan's eyes narrowed beneath the mask.
Impossible. Lelouch used Geass. She shouldn't remember.
He looked at Lelouch. The Britannian prince's gaze flicked up. Calm. Stone-faced. Guilty.
He knew.
"I lost my temper," Logan said aloud. "Not my proudest moment."
"Oh please," Milly smirked. "You act all serious. It's kinda try-hard."
"TRY-HARD?! I didn't name myself Cobra Commander to look cool!"
"And yet, here you are," she teased, giggling.
Logan huffed. "You dare mock the leader of the world's greatest army?!"
"Well, you're dating material at least. Can't say that about most warlords."
They both laughed.
Meanwhile, Shirley turned to Lelouch.
"Wait… I feel like I know you."
Lelouch faked a polite smile. "We're in the same class."
"Are we? Weird. I thought—"
"Please," Lelouch cut in. "That's enough."
Shirley bowed to Logan again before skipping off.
Milly raised an eyebrow. "What was that all about?"
"She… forgot some things," Lelouch said, tight-lipped.
Logan played dumb.
"Love makes you blind. Or… forgetful," Milly mused. "Wish I had that luxury."
"What do you mean?" Logan asked.
She sighed. "My family wants me to marry a noble. To restore our name."
That hit a nerve. Logan hated arranged marriage. Hated being a pawn.
"How about… I talk to your parents?"
"What?!"
"Trust me."
Ashford Principal's Office – An Hour Later
Milly waited outside, biting her nails.
The door opened. Logan stepped out.
"Good news. No more blind dates."
"Wait—really?! Thank you!"
"Bad news. They think you're dating me."
Silence.
"What?"
"It's just a cover. I'm 22. I won't lay a finger on you. But it gets your family off your back."
Milly blinked. Then smiled.
"Honestly… that's perfect. Besides…" She grabbed his arm and smirked. "I get to tell everyone I'm dating Cobra Commander."
Logan laughed behind the mask.
"Where's our first date then, Miss Ashford?"
Montage — Logan & Milly's "Date"
Downtown Area.
Cue synthpop music.
— She drags him into a boutique.
— Tries on six dresses. He gives dramatic military salutes of approval.
Dinner at a Neon-Lit Restaurant.
He uses the feeding hatch in his mask. She laughs. So does he.
Arcade.
She destroys the dance machine. He reluctantly joins her. They win enough tickets for a stuffed cobra.
Shooting Gallery at the Fair.
The rigged targets won't fall. Logan flashes a pistol beneath his coat. Miraculously, she wins a giant snake plush.
A Walk Beneath the Stars
They sat on a garden bench under an amber moon. Streetlights buzzed faintly in the distance. The plush snake was draped between them like a lazy cat.
"That was probably the best date I've ever had," Milly whispered.
"It was my first," Logan admitted.
"Seriously?" She tilted her head. "No way."
"Hard to date when your face looks like a horror movie."
She paused. "Ever thought of… getting it fixed?"
"I have. After I finish something important."
"What?"
"Can't say. Not yet."
She leaned over, kissed the front of his mask, leaving a lipstick imprint.
"Well, Logan… I hope I'm there when you do."
He didn't reply. Just looked at her.
"You're not so bad for a try-hard warlord."
Victory Palace — Night
Logan stepped out of the limo. Firefly and Destro awaited him.
"Good date, sir?" Destro asked.
"Shut it."
"Black Knights got new recruits," Firefly added. "Quiet types. Rough. They'll follow orders."
"And the toys?" Logan asked.
"Come see."
Knightmare Factory — Cobra Labs
Inside the revamped factory, glowing tubes and mechanical arms surrounded a new Knightmare Frame—sleek, angular, painted deep indigo with red accents.
"RGC-80," Destro said proudly. "Standard issue Cobra Frame. Agile. Shielded. Modular weapons."
Logan ran a hand along the armor.
"And not invincible?"
"Correct. Two solid hits will break it. We don't want these stolen."
"Smart."
"We'll debut them during Art Day tomorrow," Firefly added.
Logan groaned. "Right… that nonsense."
Firefly's voice turned grim.
"Tohdoh's been scheduled for execution."
"Execution?" Logan straightened.
"And the one swinging the sword… is Suzaku Kururugi."
Cue cut to black. Synth bass rises.