Chapter 46

Chapter 46 is the forty-sixth chapter of the Astra Lost in Space manga. It is the ninth chapter of the Galem arc and, in the compiled volumes, the ninth chapter of the fifth volume.

Synopsis
Back on the Astra (ship), the crew is hard at work in treating Kanata's injuries. Quitterie is able to treat him despite having no anesthesia, and is confident that Kanata will get a new prosthetic arm. She tells Charce while she sympathizes with Charce's situation from before, she will find it hard to forgive him for what happened to Kanata.

Meanwhile, Zack and Paulina tell the others they are unable to restore comms to contact Astra, which Paulina suspects have to do with incompatible communications systems when they were forced to switch parts between the Ark VI and Astra back on Planet Icriss. While the others are saddened by this, they do brighten up when Aries mentions it would be nicer to return home to Astra on their own, but not before they replenish their own supplies first.

Zack asks Charce what he wants to do, and Charce replies that he would like to be locked up and turned over to the police when they return home along with originals for murder. Just as he says that Kanata walks in and says no one will get arrested today. He mentions that no one blames Charce for his actions and actually thanks him for turning off the orb earlier when Kanata was alone. He also lets Charce know that if Charce explains the full situation when he heads back home, then no one will charge him with a crime. He then tells Charce that it's time for him to choose his own life.

Kanata then turns to the group and says Charce is not going to get arrested and everyone will go foraging tomorrow as they need as many able-bodied members as possible. When Ulgar questions whether it is wise to have Charce roam around free, Kanata responds by saying that he would sacrifice his left arm to keep the unity on the ship. He tells the crew that everyone needs to trust each other and stop believing in lies, and if anyone tries to challenge him, he'd take them on with his left arm.

The crew, amazed by Kanata's speech, agrees to this, especially Charce, who thanks everyone for their support as he has rediscovered himself. Satisfied, Kanata says that Charce has an obligation to spill the secrets when they return home, but also asks Charce whether he knew about the secrets of Astra's history, to which Charce replies yes. Having said all this, Kanata passes out from the pain, and the crew springs to action to take care of Kanata and get ready to pack enough supplies to return home.

117 days since the stranding, and 7 days since they arrived on Planet Galem, they have collected enough supplies in order to return home, with Charce's biological skills helping out greatly. Kanata, bored by himself, is visited by Aries often. As they stare at the beauty of the planet on the ship's balcony one day, they remark how much the trip has changed them and their bonds have made them grow stronger together, and Aries writes in her diary later that she feels sad that their journey is coming to an end.

On day 120 since the stranding, they have collected enough supplies to return home. They excitedly discuss among themselves what it means to return home, and begin to focus on their last leg of the journey. They take off from the planet and when they entire FTL, Kanata arranges for a meeting and asks Charce to begin telling of the true story of Astra.