A/N: I decided to do another chapter for this and might do a separate fic for AFTER Natsuki and the others had fully completed training or something related to an extent.

Different perspectives for each chapter here.


Chapter 2: Nao

"You sure you don't want to come with us?" Natsuki stood in front of the shorter Nao who still had her hands behind her back in parade rest. The pose was so stiff and the redhead briefly bent her knees, trying not to lock them. It was an awkward movement, but entirely necessary, "Your family isn't coming right? You're really welcome to join us." Shizuru nodded in agreement beside her. They were arm to arm and holding hands. Nao's eyebrow twitched.

Still, the redhead, not wanting to ruin someone's day for once, said calmly, "Nah, I'm fine Kuga. I'll find someone else or just do detail back at the company."

"Are you su—"

She interrupted, "Shut up. Shut. The. Fuck. Up." Nao suddenly moved her hand to push her peer's shoulder rather roughly, but it was nothing new between them. They partnered up in almost every opportunity they could during their training. They knew each other as if they had for years, "You two just enjoy yourselves."

With somewhat of a sigh and looking at Shizuru, Natsuki nodded, "Okay, Nao. See you later." Natsuki used her first name. Nao almost did not recognize her own name. Yuuki had been her name for the last few months and the months and years to come for her service. But it felt good to hear her name again.

"See ya, Kuga." Nao couldn't bring herself to say Natsuki. Kuga would always be Kuga to her.

Nao let out a small sigh as she watched Natsuki and Shizuru leave the field. It was a nice gesture though. No one else would have offered. The redhead declined, seriously wanting nothing to do with hovering around a gushy couple all day. Seriously, it'd be gross. Maybe not as gross as Harada and her girlfriend, but I refuse to be a third wheel here, Nao thought with a grimace, fighting to stick out a tongue. She recalled reading a letter between Chie and Aoi, after prying it out of Chie's hands when she refused to let her read, and shuddered remembering its contents.

The minutes passed and the field was nearly empty, save for the few dozen that had no families or friends visiting. They began to move, now able to leave, and paired up to move around base, go to the store, park, whatever, to pass the time. She sighed again and relaxed her body, rolling her stiff shoulders from being in parade rest so long. Looks like I'll just go back and do detail. Nao paused and looked at the ground, lime-green eyes lowered filled with somewhat of a shimmer.

"Nao!" an excited, high pitched voice called out.

She perked up and blinked a few times, the shimmer gone and replace with the usual bored expression. She turned to the direction of the voice and saw a busty redhead, not red like her own hair but rather orange, a small brunette boy, and an even smaller black-haired girl in the combat uniform. "Minagi?" Nao had no initial reaction to the youngest trainee they had in the company approaching her. Did she just call me by my first name? She thought and then realized, Oh yeah… She calls everyone by their first name. Drill sergeants could never fix that. Then again, she was enjoying hearing her name again. She then grinned. Yes, I could hang with her! Perfect! If she asks, at least. The two alone had cause plenty of mischief in the barracks and out in the field. Harmless fun and pranks, of course, that would result in pushups or other 'corrective actions', but it was so worth it.

Mikoto stopped and jumped in front of her, landing with somewhat of a pout, "Call me Mikoto, Nao!" Her beret fell over her eye and she quickly fixed it, the headwear was a few sizes too large. It was a wonder the uniform even fit the small girl.

The kid was too much for Nao. She always felt like the tired big sister, but she liked the kid for some reason. Maybe it was the fact the kid was so easy to influence, "Okay, Mikoto." She looked over the busty girl and fragile looking boy accompanying Mikoto, "This the friends I've heard oh so much about?" she placed a hand on her hip with a smirk.

"Mm!" Mikoto nodded enthusiastically, "This is Mai and Takumi," She smiled, introducing them both.

"It's nice to meet you," Takumi said softly, lowering his head. He rose and gave a smile. He looks nice but kinda weird, Nao thought, looks like a total sis-con. She fought back a snort.

"I'm Takumi's older sister, pleasure to meet you!" the one called Mai said with a bright smile, holding out her hand. Nao almost visibly cringed, and stared at the hand. She looked back up and the only thought she had of Mai was overbearing as fuck. She debated whether or not to accept the handshake and remembered their briefing about professionalism and all that jazz. She decided to listen. For once.

"Ah, nice to meet you guys too." Nao briefly shook Mai's hand and shrugged, looking around, "I'm headed back to the company. Shouldn't you guys leave the field?"

Mai's eyes didn't leave her and it made Nao rather uncomfortable, "Mikoto told us you didn't have anyone coming, so we wanted to see if you'd like to join us for the day?" She suggested with a smile, eyes almost sad mentioning no one came to visit Nao.

That was the plan, but don't pity me! Nao thought, and smirked, "You sure you want me butting in?"

"You wouldn't be Nao!" Mikoto pouted, upset to hear Nao think she'd be bothering them, "We're going to the EST first, Takumi wants to try it, let's go!"

"Haah? That piece of shit?!" Nao groaned. She absolutely hated the EST, but let Mikoto take her by the arm and drag her to Mai's car nonetheless.


"Aw, why do I keep missing?" Takumi groaned, propping himself on his elbows. Takumi, Nao, and Mikoto were lying on their stomachs at the electronic range. The range had M4's attached to a sort of wire and a bright screen stood in front of them. It was just like a video game so Takumi could not understand why he was missing his targets when he was aiming just fine.

"You're not breathing right, kid," Nao propped her chin in her hand, the other hand resting on her lane's M4. She absolutely detested the electronic range because for one, the screen was bright but always out of focus. In the dim room it absolutely hurt her eyes. She also preferred real recoil. The kick from the rifle made her feel alive and she would always shoot close to the forty targets that would appear. On the electronic simulation, Nao shot worse and she absolutely hated it.

"I'm trying my best," Takumi sighed, "I still don't get some of it," He held the rifle, the scene looking completely out of place on the frail boy. The whole time, however, Takumi was smiling, certainly enjoying himself.

"Mikoto will teach you, she's a decent shot." Nao waved him off and stepped off the platform and to the benches where Mai sat watching with a smile. Geez, this kid's such a whiner, Nao sighed externally, "How do you deal with those two combined?" Nao flopped next to her watching Mikoto and Takumi continue shooting. The sergeant in charge of the range only observing the computer screen and ignoring everything around him, almost seeming to nod off.

Mai gave a chuckle and held her hands out to her side with a shrug, "I don't know," She let the hands drop, "They can be a handful sometimes, Mikoto more than Takumi except when he ends up at the hospital, but I wouldn't have them any other way."

Nao wanted to stick out a tongue, "No need to get gushy now." She then blinked, "Wait, the kid goes to the hospital?" she peered over at Takumi. She knew he looked frail, but did not realize his health was just as frail.

The busty redhead nodded, "Sometime he has to, but he never stays long. How are you doing though? Mikoto told me your mother was in the hospital."

"She told you that did she?" Nao looked down, her demeanor softer. Still, she nodded, "Yeah, she is."

"Mind if I ask what happened?"

Why am I spilling my guts out to this person? I just met her. Nao scoffed and kept her voice low, as if not wanting anyone to hear, "Robbery. She got seriously hurt and they made way with a lot of stuff. Mom is actually the only family I have and of course, she couldn't come because of it. She wrote me a few weeks ago and, y'know, mail moves slow. Only found out a few days ago."

A hand softly fell on her shoulder and she cringed. Noticing, Mai instantly moved her hand away, "Have you called her yet? I'm sure you've got your phones back. Mikoto never had one of course so we didn't have to go back to pick it up,"

"Ah, I realized I forgot to pick it up. I should probably go back soon for it."

Mai hummed and dug vigorously in the shoulder bag. She pulled out her own phone and handed it to Nao enthusiastically, "Here! You remember your log in right? Just call her on here."

Staring at the offered phone, Nao had no clue what to say to Mai. I guess she isn't that bad.


After some time, Nao accepted the phone and stepped outside. Although technically not allowed to be alone without a family member or battle buddy, she really needed to be alone for this. Sitting with her back to the brick wall, Nao opened the video chat app on Mai's phone. Her hands anxiously shook, hoping to whatever god was out there that her mother still had her phone after the robbery. If not she'd have to call the hospital.

The young redhead typed in the number and called. Please pick up, please. She closed her eyes, listening to the call tone. It was taking longer than usual and she found herself holding her breath.

Yes.

"Mama?"

The screen opened up to a video, the sight of her mother bandaged, but smiling brightly in the hospital bed, bringing both joy to her heart and breaking it all at the same time, "Nao! Is that you? I almost didn't answer because it wasn't your number. I'm so glad to see you finally!"

Nao let out a smile and instantly allowed the tears to fall. She hadn't changed even after such an event, "Mama! I'm glad to see you too, I'm glad you're alright…" She looked over the bandages once again and held a stifled cry, wiping her face, "I'm so sorry I wasn't able to protect you,"

Her mother only smiled warmly, the sight of it and her voice alone making the redhead feel as if her mother's hand was physically touching her, comforting her. "It's alright, honey, don't cry. I'll be alright. We will. I'm just sorry I couldn't make it to see you… You'll be done soon after this, right?" she tilted her head, staring into her daughter's eyes through the screen. "You should tell me about the friends you made."

Nao nodded her head, "Don't worry about not showing up, mama. And yeah, I'll see you… very soon." She smiled. Then she began telling her about Natsuki, Mikoto, and Chie. She had given them all a hard time, sure, but they had always stuck by each other in training. Inseparable. The two and a half months of training felt like years to them. Yes, she would soon be able to be with the person that meant the world to her. It was her turn to provide to her mother, protect her, and the soldier felt she would be unstoppable as long as she had her mother and her friends to back her up. Family.


A/N: I enjoy writing Nao in any situation. It's a sacrificing and difficult job to do. Sometimes circumstances and just life in general prevents us from seeing our loved ones in person. It's stressful and draining. It plain sucks. But luckily technology has a way with connecting us in ways that wasn't possible years ago.