Rocket Girls: The Last Planet by Housuke Nojiri Read Free Book Online Page A

course!”
    “If one experiment fails, we can’t move on to the next. That’s why I needed you to bring those goldfish back alive. Here I thought all was lost, but then you came to the rescue.” Miyamoto beamed and clapped Akane on the shoulder. “It’s that kind of quick thinking that makes you an astronaut, I guess! Splendid, splendid!”
    Akane blinked. “Er, actually, sir, I’m not—”
    “She’s a civilian,” Yukari cut in. “She just happened to be there at the school where we landed.”
    “What? Is that so? Why, I was sure the SSA had sent you!”
    “No, actually. See, we landed at Nellis Academy—”
    Yukari went on to tell the entire story of their emergency splashdown and subsequent efforts to keep the goldfish alive. Miyamoto listened attentively, scratching his head throughout.
    “I see, I see! Well, I suppose I can be forgiven the misunderstanding. After all, she’s the right age, and the girl does have considerable talent.”
    Apparently, he hadn’t noticed that Akane was wearing her school uniform.
    The professor chuckled. “I swear, I can’t look at a short schoolgirl these days without wondering if she’s an astronaut.”
    “A short schoolgirl…” Yukari glanced over at Akane. The girl was roughly the same height as she was, maybe even a little slighter in build. Perfect height, perfect weight. She wished someone like Akane had been there when everything started going haywire. Someone to watch the experiments while she and Matsuri focused on piloting. That would have made everything so much easier. Matsuri was clearly giving Akane the once-over as well.
    Well, it can’t hurt to ask.
    “Say, Akane. Want a job?”
    “What kind of job?”
    “Oh, I don’t know. Like, maybe being an astronaut for the SSA?”
    Akane burst out laughing. “You’re pulling my leg!”
    “Nope. No leg-pulling.”
    “ Hoi! What a great idea.” Matsuri joined in. “Boy, with Akane on the team, we’d be golden!”
    “We haven’t made any public announcements, but truth be told, we really need someone. This could be your big chance, Akane. Really.”
    “But, but I couldn’t be an astronaut. Don’t you have to be in great physical condition?”
    “A little training would take care of that, no problem.”
    “But…”
    “Boy, if it was me, I’d be there in a heartbeat,” Miyamoto said. “Surely you must have your share of applicants? You’re quite popular these days.”
    “Actually, we do,” Yukari said. While it was true that they had made no public announcement, every month, one or two hopefuls made their way to the Solomon Space Center—on a tiny island at the edge of civilization, a place devoid of any entertainment or anything to do at all if one wasn’t in the SSA already. Most people who wanted to be the next Yukari or Matsuri despaired the moment they set foot in the place.
    There were a few whose passion to go into space overcame any such concerns, but every one of them had been physically unsuited for the job. Even though they never put it into words, the SSA wasn’t in the position to even consider anyone who wasn’t under 155 centimeters tall and weighed less than thirty-eight kilograms. Also, though it wasn’t an absolute requirement, they really preferred a girl. The lack of a toilet onboard the orbiter would make things complicated were males integrated into the crew.
    Which was why the best people gave up on the SSA and instead went for the Space Development Agency back in Japan. A successful career there could get you on the space shuttle and even get you a chance for a stay on the ISS.
    There were other reasons holding some applicants back. Even though the space shuttle wasn’t really all that safe, and the SSA wasn’t as dangerous as it seemed, people thought twice about actually stepping into Yukari’s shoes when it came down to it. Not even the lure of overnight fame was sufficient temptation.
    “I should think all you’d need is your health. I mean, if the shoe