{April/5/2026}
(Isan region:Thailand)
1100 hours local times
This morning, at excatly 0230 hours, the coalition counter offensive had began. Codename operation Archangel, it is one of the largest counter offensinve in history. Around 1400 aircraft bombarded the chinese frontline at night. soon it was followed by artillery barrage that lasted for hours that was carried out by over 2100 artillery and MLRS.
At dawn the coalition troops made their move. Over 1800 tanks, 5400 armored vehicle, 15,000 trucks and over 1,200,000 soldiers march into battle to liberate Thailand and push the chinese all the way back to the border.
The coalition soldiers are eager to get into action straight away. Some are eager to excact vengence on the chinese for invading their homeland, others are excited to be in combat for the first time. But they all knew that deep down they would have to face something they dislike in the upcoming battle. So they all have prepared themself to face the horrors that this war will throw at them.
But to their absoloute surprise, for most of them, the very first horror of war that they face isn't the sight of mangled corpse or the constant sound of exploding shells. Instead they were faced with a horror that most of them are very much familliar with.
Traffic jam.
"Hey Mako! You couldn't just fall asleep right now!" Saori yelled out from the loader hatch.
Mako, who have her head sticking out of the driver hatch groggily turn around to face Saori. "Why not? The traffic haven't move for two hours." She dryly said.
"But what if there's an airstrike and we need to escape quickly but couldn't because you're asleep." Saori pointed out.
"If there's an airstirke i'll be awake to save us, or we all die, so relax Saori." Mako stated.
Saori wanted to argue some more but she was stop by Hana who was sitting at the top of the turrent. "Just let her be Saori. Arguing at this point is pointless."
Saori sigh in frustration. "Yeah you're right."
Meanwhile, Miho who's standing tall at her commader cupola are trying her hardess to see the front end of the convoy, but she couldn't as the convoy was to long and the road is winding and surrounded by tall hills and trees so it was hard to see that far ahead.
They left Khon Kaen city around 0600 hours just after sunrise. There were a lot of cheering and optimism from the soldiers once they began their march. But it didn't take long before those optimism replace with boredom as because there are a total of three Division being sent out to liberate a province from Khon kaen alone, traffic jam are innevitable.
It also didn't help that the road condition in Thailand aren't known for their quality, even in peace time, which didn't help the soldiers situation.
The convoy are moving at a snails pace, sometimes only moving a few inches in an hour, sometimes they didn't move at all, like right now.
"Seriously, what cause all this?" Saori whined.
"Do you think it's an ambush?" Hana thought aloud.
Miho shook her head. "No i don't think so. If it was an ambush the gunfire would've been much closer."
"So what is it?" Saori ask.
Miho shrugged. "Probably a vehicle got broken down."
Saori let out a groan. "How long we'll be stuck out here?"
Miho took a glance at the traffic in front of them before answering. "Who know's, but this traffic is very similar to what the Russian were expiriencing during their invasion of Ukraine. Sot a traffic like this could last for a week straight."
"WHAT?!" Saori screamed. "And here i thought traffic in Tokyo were bad."
"Though, that's just a possibility. Most likely we'll be moving in a few hours."
"That is still to long of a wait." Saori said.
"Just be patient Saori, maybe you could follow Mako's example and sleep it of if you feel bored." Miho suggested.
Saori huffed in annoyence. "Fine." She then closed her hatch to take a nap.
"You know." Hana said. "This morning i honestly thought we would be stuck in some sort of fire firefight by now."
Miho look at her before answering. "Yeah me too. But you know how the saying goes. Reality is often disspaoniting." Miho stated.
Hana sigh. "Yeah, i suppose you're right."
Inside a tank nickname 'Hippo' was her exhausted and bored crew. Like everyone else, they did not expect to be stuck in a traffic in a middle of a war, so it came as an unexpected and an unwelcome surprise. And like many other soldiers who are stuck in the convoy, they are dying out of boredom.
Saemonza is trying her hardest not to fall asleep, while Oryou who's alone in the driver compartment already gave up on staying awake and now are dead and Caesar is playing on there phone to get rid of their boredom. Though they didn't use them to access the internet as it was strictly forbidden to use internet in a military operation in fear of revealing their location to the enemy.
As Erwin scroll through her phone, she eventually got bored and put it away. Smartphone without internet is the same as no phone at all for today's generation. As Erwin contemplate what she should do next, she look at Caesar who's sitting on her loader seat, have her full attention on her phone. Curious, Erwin decide to ask her about it.
"What are you doing?"
"I'm watching Band of Brothers." Caesar respond.
Erwin raised an eyebrow at this. "You're not using the internet right?"
Caesar shook her head. "Nope, i download it." she stated. "ilegally." She added the last part sheepishly.
Erwin only snorts in amusement at her friend answer. "Can i join in?"
"Sure" Caesar said happily. She then turn to Saemonza in her gunner seat. "You wanna watch to?" She offered.
Saemonza nodded, feeling relieved that she can finally watch something.
Caesar then turn her phone screen in an angle so she, Erwin and Saemonza could watch the show together. As Erwin watch the show with Caesar and Saemonza, she start to feel her boredom began to leave her body. Even though she already watch Band of Brothers dozens of times before, she was never tired of watching it.
They're now on the carentan episode and was getting to the part of when Easy company was pinned down by the German tanks in the battle of the bloody gulch. Then came Erwin favorite part of the episode when the 2nd armored Division came to rescue Easy company from the German. But as the scene starts, Caesar phone suddenly die.
"Damnit i forgot to charge this thing." Caesar cursed out. She then turn to face her friends. "Do you guys have any movies in your phone?"
Erwin shook her head. "Nope, never got the change to download anything."
Saemonza sigh before answering. "My phone was run over by a train back at the station, remember?"
"Oh yeah i do remember that. You curse that driver so hard, i genuinely think he might piss himself." Caesar chuckles at the memory.
"Heh, i think he was more scared at the fact that he didn't understand anything she said than her anger to be honest." Erwin stated. "Or it could maybe both."
"Stop it guys, it's not that funny." Saemonza protested.
"Nah, i think it's pretty hilarious." Erwin said as she and Caesar chuckle together. But as soon as the chuckle dies down, all three of them suddenly back to being bored out of their mind.
"I wonder if this is what the German soldier stationed at Norway feels when the rest of their comrades fighting to the death to defend their country and all the while they're stuck in a frozen land with little to know action." Erwin stated.
"You mean the Takeda Katsuyori's Samurai's during the battle of Yoshida castle." Saemonza added.
"Or maybe Roman legionares during the siege of agrigentum." Caesar said.
"That's it!" Her friends exclaim.
When in most cases, the soldiers and tankers that were stuck in the traffic are bored as hell. For one tanker, he wish that was the case.
"What the hell did you just call my sister you bastard?!"
"I'm just calling her skinny pussy, what's the problem with that?!"
"Take that back you asshole!"
"What? Do you want me to call your sister a fat pussy instead huh?!"
"Are you sure you're reffering to the right person? 'Cuz if my memory served correctly, the fat pussy is your mother!"
"THAT'S IT, YOU'RE DEAD!"
Before the loader and the gunner could strangle each other to death, they were stop by their exhausted commander who clearly have enough of the two cursing each other family name.
Sergeant first class Kaito Suzuki gave a murderous glare at his loader and gunner. The fued between the two started just before their deployment to Thailand when Ichiro, the gunner unknowingly flirted with Kenichi's older sister who's already married. Since then the two have been constantly at odds with each other, such as making snarky remarks everytime they're in the same room, pranking each other with malicious intent and sometime even a full blown fight.
The two have been a very huge source of frustration and annoyence to Kaito and Tatsuo, the tank driver.
"If both of you won't shut those filthy mouths of yours right now, i'll have both of you do a thousand push up! Is that clear?"
Both of them didn't respond right away.
"IS THAT CLEAR!?" Kaito repeated.
"Yes sir." Both mumbled out, but they still glare at each other.
Soon an awkward silence fell upon the tank, but even in the dead silent, Kaito could feel the hate and resentment both his loader and gunner have for each other. The atmosphere was suffocating and the air inside the tank felt humid, despite the fact their tank was equip with air conditioning.
Kaito couldn't take it anymore, he needed some fresh air.
He grab a binocular, open his hatch and stood on his cupola to look over a few vehicle in front of him and find that the traffic is miles long and as far as her concern, none of them knew what had caused it.
So he decide to investigate it. Though it was more of an excuse to get away from Kenichi and Ichiro
He briefly went back to his commander compartment to retrive his pistol before stepping out of the tank. Before he leave, he say a few word to his driver. "Tatsuo, i'm gonna investigate what's causing the traffic. You're in charge while i'm gone."
Tatsuo however wasn't thrilled by his sudden promotion. "What? Sarge, you can't possibly leave me with these idiots." He said incredulously.
His complain is promptly ignored. "Don't worry Tatsuo, you'll be fine." Before Tatsuo could could object any further, Kaito already left the tank.
Kaito walk past two tanks infront of him, the hippo and ankou. The hippo crew was nowhere insight, so he assumed they were inside the tank. When he walk past the ankou, he saw Miho and Hana having a friendly chat. He exchange greeting with them before continuing his walk.
And then he walk past the third tank that was commanded by Jiro. Name after the 'oni', a creature from Japanese mythology. It has the word oni paited on it's barrel and a drawing of a giant on it's hull.
But that's not the one that caught his attention. What caught his attention is Jiro and all of his crew are sitting on top of the tank turrent, smoking, joking and laughing without a hint of boredom on their face.
The sight made Kaito felt a pang of envy in his chest. He wish he could be like that with his crew, instead of his current situation where he has to constantly preventing his gunnur and loader from killing each other, all the while his driver just watching awkwardly.
"Hey Kaito! Where are you going?"
Jiro's voice brought him out of his thoughts. He look over at Jiro before answering. "I'm just gonna investigate what's going on over there." And without any further explanation, he left.
Jiro and his crew watch Kaito leave and started speculating.
"So, what do you guys thinking?" Ask Haruto, the gunner.
"Thinking about what." Said Kazuo, the loader.
"What's causing this damn traffic, duh." Haruto stated.
Ryo, the driver shrugged at his question. "Hell if i know, just wait 'till Kaito came's back. I'm sure we'll have our answer then."
Jiro however was in deep thought and didn't join in on his crew conversation. Then a sudden realization hit him and he let out a groan. "Oh god no."
That caught the attention of his crew. "You okay top?" Haruto ask.
"Kaito is investigating what caused the traffic." Jiro said in horror.
His crew look at him confused. "Yeah we know. He said that himself, and you were the one who ask." Kazuo stated.
After Kazuo done speaking, Jiro look him dead in the eye and says. "You don't get it, do you?"
"umm no, i don't get it." Kazou said, still confused.
Jiro sighed before explaining. "Kaito is a father you know."
"Uh yeah we know, we've seen his son before our deployment." Haruto stated. "How is this have anything to do with him investigating traffic?"
"Well you see my children." Jiro said in his storytelling voice. "When a father are stuck on a traffic and decide to investigate it, it could only end in two different outcome. One; they gave up half way and return to their vehicle. Two; they somehow made the traffic even worse. Anyone want to take a guess?"
"Encounter a fellow dad and talk about politics?" Ryo inquire.
"Encounter a fellow dad and talk about politics." Jiro gave him a thumbs up to compliment him. "And when that happend, it would make 'em occupied for hours. It's basically like drugs, but for dads."
"Heh, figure." Ryo said, amused.
"Wait a minute i just remember something. I'll be right back." Jiro said before he went inside the commander hatch, before ressurface a few second later with a black plastic back in his hand.
"The hell is that?" Ryo ask.
Jiro look at the back, and then back at Ryo and nonchalantly said. "It's weed."
Jiro's crew all have their eyes gone wide open when they here that word. "Top! Are you insane?! You're gonna get arrested if they find you with that thing!" Haruto yelled out.
"Relax Haruto. Thailand have made Marijuana legal for consumption since 2022."
"That's only for medical purpose, not for the fun of it!" Ryo Exclaim.
"And plus, Lt. Kanagawa's tank is right in front of us. If he saw you, he'll have your asses court martialed!" Kazou said.
Jiro just smiled at his crew distressed. "And that is were you are wrong Kazuo. You see, i manage to obtain this stuff thanks to Lt.s' help."
"Wait, really? How?" Haruto ask, flabbergasted.
Jiro let out a laugh. "Yeah, i couldn't believe it either. But it seems that everyone has a dark side. So yeah, lieutenant won't have any problem what so ever with us smoking some weed." Jiro said, still amused at the time lieutenant Kanagawa offered him marijuana back at their last base. "So who want some?"
"Well don't mind if i do." Haruto said as he reach out for the weed bag.
"Um who's the one that calls me insane just a minute earlier?" Jiro ask sarcastically.
Haruto shrugged. "Well like you said. Everyone has a dark side."
Jiro snort and handed each of his crew a roll of weed and light it up with his lighter and they all smoke the marijuana together. As they enjoy the sensation of being high, they heard a loud rumbling sound coming from the sky.
They look up at the sky to see a squadron of F-15 strike eagle fly in formation, no doubt heading for the frontline to conduct airstrike.
"That's the fifth fly by in the last 30 minutes." Ryo remark.
"Why the hell those guys get to blow stuff up? That's suppose to be our job." Kazuo exclaim.
"We're not the only one who gets to blow stuff up kazuo." Jiro said.
"Hey kazuo, maybe you should've join the air force if you can't handle being stuck in traffic." Haruto remark.
"Hah, as if. He can't even drive in a straight line, and you expect him to fly a jet? Get real Haruto." Ryo tease.
The crew, except for Kazuo laugh.
"Guys shut up!" Kazuo yelled.
"The truth hurt Kazuo." Haruto said, while still laughing.
'No, seriously shut up!" At this, the three of them shut up, by the tone of his voice, Kazuo notice something.
At first, they thought it was the marijuana taking effect, but after listening closely, they realized it wasn't the weed and they all groan in displeasure.
"Who's willing to bet it was Ichiro and Kenichi again." Ryo remark.
"No, those two are definately at it again." Jiro said.
"Do you guys think both of them would kill each other for real this time?" Kazuo said jokingly.
"Not funny Kazuo." Jiro chided. "Those two would never crossed that line."
Right after he said that, the screaming and yelling gets even louder, to the point where they could hear what those two were saying.
"FUCK YOUR MOM!"
"Talk shit about my mother again and you are dead!"
"You sure about that top?" Haruto ask in concern.
Jiro sigh. "You know what, maybe we should interfere afterall, make sure nobody was killed."
"Yeah good idea. I'll get Miho, Erwin and to help so we could take shift watching them. "Ryo said.
"Ah great, so now we're babysitters apperently." Kazuo remark sarcastically.
And with that the four of them left their tank to stop two of their fellow tankers from killing each other.
A war they thought would lead them to the path glory, just turn into babysitting their fellow soldiers.
(Seoul:South Korea)
Changgyeonggung palace
1300 hours local times
After the palace have been liberated by the combined forces of the Korean and Japanese military, both army rested on the palace ground and the surrounding area to celebrated their success of reclaiming the cultural site from the north korean, and to consolidated their forces for one final push that will drove the north korean out of Seoul once and for all.
The north korean western and eastern flank have been completly destroyed by the combined army of American and South Korea. Meanwhile, there are four division of north korean still trap within the city of Seoul, and with their western and eastern flank destroyed, they are completly surrounded inside the city.
And now the triple allience of the Republic of Korea, Japan and The United States of America have to do is to crushed the remaining north korean forces within Seoul. And once the job is done, the road to Pyongyang would be wide open.
Right now Maho was all alone sitting on top of her tank 'kitsune'. Her crew had gone of to met up with their old friends from Pravda who also join the JSDF as an infantry. Since kitsune had been refueled and restock with fresh ammo so Maho let Akira and Yua see their friends. The situation in the palace ground is pretty relax since the north korean are in their last legs and are in no position to launch a counter attack.
Maho herself also had plan to met up with her old friends. She, Kuome and Erika had agreed to hangout on Maho's tank
Even though they see each other every single day since they were on the same platoon, when they talk, they always talk in a profesional manner, like soldiers and superior should acted, instead of friends. And since they're fighting a war, they never have any time to hangout as friends.
But now, the north korean in Seoul are in the verge of defeat and many soldiers are already celebreating their imminent victory. So the three friends decided if they wanted to hangout, it's now.
After a few minutes of waiting, Kuome and Erika finally arrived at the tank, with Kuome holding three bottles of Soju
"There you are lieutenant." Kuome greeted.
"Come on Kuome, no need to be formal, i'm your friend." Maho said with a smile.
Kuome sheepishly rub her head. "Sorry about that Maho. It's been a while since the last time we hangout. I've honestly getting used to the fact that you're our commanding officer." She said as she and Erika climb up the turrent to join.
"I am your commanding officer. But i'm also your friend Kuome, you can act casual around me." Maho said. "When we're not in the battlefield anyway." She said as Kuome handed her a Soju bottle.
For the first few minutes, none of them talk and they just enjoy the comfortable silence around them, they savoured the moment as for the last few month since they arrived at the city had been a constant chaos of gunfire, explosion of artillery and airstrike and the the rumbling sounds of tank engine. The silence was only broken when Kuome spoke up"Man, i still find it hard to believe we survive this far." She exclaim.
Erika nodded in agreement. "I know right. It fells like only yesterday we were competing in the national tournament." She laughed. "And that's four years ago."
"Yeah, and now we are fighting in one of the biggest battle in history. And tommorow it would be over and we will celebrate our victory with a bottle of sake by nightfall." Kuome said in a dreamy voice as she took a sip out of her soju bottle.
"Don't get to excited Kuome. For all we know this battle could go on for another month." Maho said.
"Ugh, always a buzzkill, aren't you Maho?" Kuome pouted.
Maho smirk. "You know me."
"Yeah, i know." Kuome grumbled. "But is it wrong to think that way? After all we've been through i think it's okay to think of nice thing. Instead of thinking if we'd still be alive to see the next sunrise." Kuome stated.
Maho absorbed her friend's words and find some truth behind it. For the last few month all she's been worried about is kill as much enemy as possible and staying alive. Even though she shared some pleasant conversation with her crew, never she thought of a single thing she would done when the battle is over.
"Yeah, you're right Kuome, you are absoloutely right." Maho said to her friend.
"Though you shouldn't be to confident. Otherwise, if something happend, you would be surely dissapointed." Erika said.
"Oh come on Erika, Maho already lift my mood and you just made it worse again."
Erika just shrugged. "Just saying what's on my mind."
Kuome let out a huff. "I hate you."
Erika however just smile, knowing that Kuome is just being dramatic. "Almost a drama queen."
"No i'm not!" Kuome pouted
"Wow, pouting at your age Kuome? Seems you never really grow up since we graduated from Kuromorimine." Erika teased.
"Ugh shut up Erika, you sounded like my aunt."
At this Erika shot a glare at Kuome. "Are you saying that i'm old Kuome."
Kuome smirk. "Well all those eye bags did make you look like you're in your mid fifties."
"You're the one who talk, you also had eye bags in your face." Erika shot back.
Erika and Kuome went back and forth for a few minutes, debating who between the two of them look more like an old woman. All the while Maho just watching the scene unfold in amusement. In truth was, she think all three of them had aged considerably since they arrived at Seoul. Not physically but mentally although one could look them in the face and mistaken their age to be older then it actually was. Fighting a long a battle would do that to anybody, even if you're on the winning side.
"Hey, do you guys ever thought what would you done once this is over?" Maho suddenly ask out of the blue.
Hearing her question, Erika and Kuome stop their bickering and gave each other a questioning look, wondering who should answer her question.
After a while, Erika decided to be the one who answer her question. "Extend my contract, i want to see this until it's over, like you." She answer.
Maho shook her head. "No, i didn't mean our contract. I mean the war, what would you guys do when the war is finally over? If we live long enough to see it atleast."
At this, both of them become silent.
"Um-uh i never really think about that to be honest." Kuome stammer out.
"Yeah me to, i never really thought that far head. For the last few month all i've been thinking about is what's our next meal will be." She confessed. "What about you Maho? Do you have any plan for yourself once the war is over?"
Maho sigh. "At first, i was thinking of becoming a senshado instructor. Afterall, an instructor who's a senshado legend and a war veteran would have a very respectable salary. But after all this, i don't think i could step inside a tank a again if i survive the war. and that is a big 'if'"
Kuome and Erika was stunned after hearing Maho's confession.
"What do you mean not being able step inside a tank again? You're sitting on top of one right now?" Erika ask.
"Yeah i know. what i mean is, this war won't end anythime soon, and if i somehow survive this war, is probably see things that would haunt me for life that would prevent me from stepping foot on a tank ever again." Maho confessed.
"Don't say that Maho. Taliking like that is just gonna break you down." Kuome said.
"But that's the reality Kuome. If i shield myself with to much optimism then when it will hurt more when it all came crushi-" She didn't get to finish before Kuome cut her off.
"Shh, don't talk, i don't wanna hear any more pesimistic words coming out of your mouth. Understand?"
Maho was shock to hear Kuome talk back to her like that, at first she wanted to remind Kuome who she was talking to but she hold that thought when she remembered who she was talking to. Her friend who care about her.
"Fine. You win."
Kuome was satisfied with the answer she got. "Look, i get where you came from, overly optimistic will do more harm than good, but so does pessimism. So don't talk like that ever again, okay."
Maho nodded. "Okay."
Kuome smiled at her. "Good."
(Isan region:Thailand)
1700 hours local times
Back at the Khon Kaen province of Thailand, the traffic jam haven't even moved an inch. Soldiers in their vehicle are already bored and starting to get tired, even though none of them had seen any combat yet. Many left their vehicle to stretch their legs and to find a way to cure their boredom. Of course they didn't stray to far away from their vehicle incase if things went south.
Kaito just returned from his walk of investigating the cause of the traffic. It went longer than he had predicted, he had to walk for over 45 minutes, just to reach the very front of the traffic. Turns out the cause of the traffic is the leading vehicle of the Japanese convoy, a Type 90 main battle tank ran over an anti tank mine that was left behind by the Thai military during their retreat.
With an absurd ammount of bad luck, the landmine explosion killed the tank's driver and somehow manage to ignited the ammo compartment of the tank. Thankfully, the commander and the gunner are mostly unharmed, thanks to the blow-out panel did it's job properly. But now there's a huge destroyed tank that was stuck in the middle of the road with no way of moving it without a recovery vehicle.
Fortunately a recovery vehicle manage to moved the destroyed tank pretty quickly. But another problem arose when the Japanese realized that the road ahead is probably invested with landmines, so they decide to hold of their march until the road ahead was cleared by combat engineers.
After Kaito found out the cause of the traffic like he intended of doing in the first place, instead of turning back to his tank like he had planed, he instead struck up a conversation with a fellow soldiers who happend to be also a father like him, and like Jiro had predicted, they talk mostly of worlds politics.
He was so caught up in his conversation, he didn't even realized that had spent two hours chatting with his new friends. After realizing how long he'd been gone, he bid farewell to his new friends and walk back to his tank further in the back of the convoy.
After another 45 minutes of walking, Kaito finally reach his platoon. He let out a sigh of relieved as he went past the familiar shape of 's tank. But as he walk past the tank, he notice that 's crew are giving him dirty looks, which confused him as to why.
But as he walk past Jiro's tank, he also find Jiro and his crew glaring at him. Kaito tried to ignored it and just walk past the tank to get back to his own tank.
"What the hell took you so long?!" Jiro asked Kaito.
"Huh?" Kaito answered, confused.
"I said, what the fuck took you so long?!" Jiro ask again.
Kaito open his mouth to answer.
"Actually, forget it, don't answer that." Jiro said angrily.
Being spoken to like this began to make Kaito felt irritated. "Hey man, 'the hell is your problem?"
"Why don't you ask your crew about it and you'll found out soon enough." Jiro told him off.
And that's when he knew, he fucked up. He had left two of his crewmates who hates each others guts all alone and the rest of his platoon had to babysit them while he was gone.
He then continue to walk to his tank and when he walk past Miho's tank, he found the usually calm and collective Miho giving a dirty and dissapointed look. And just before he reach his tank, he was stop by a who just like many of his comrades, gave him a dirty look.
"So Suzuki, do you found out what cause the traffic?" Lt. Kanagawa ask.
Kaito was about to answer when he was cut off.
"Don't answer that!" Kaito promtly shut up. "Sergeant Suzuki, i asumed you already guess why the rest of the platoon are giving you dirty looks?"
"Yes sir."
"Good. Then may i ask you, why do you leave Ichiro and Kenichi alone with Tatsuo knowing he couldn't control both of them?!" The Lieutenant ask angrily.
Kaito was silent, his mind is racing trying to form an answer.
"Answer me sergeant!" Kanagawa demanded.
"Um, i figure that i could make Tatsuo to toughen up a little by making him a mediator between Ichiro and Kenichi." Kaito reasoned. He internally kick himself for that patheic excuse.
Kanagawa scoff at Kaito excuse. "Toughen up? The only person here that need to toughen up is YOU! Sergeant."
Kaito flinch at his tone, but he knew he deserved it.
"Sergeant, beside me, you're the most experience soldiers in this platoon. Is that right?"
"I am sir." Kaito answer sternly.
"Well you sure as hell didn't act like it. Do you have any idea, what kind of shit all of us been through to keep your crew from killing each other?"
"What did Ichiro and Kenichi do sir?" Kaito ask.
Kanagawa scoff. "What didn't they do?! They almost shoot each other in the face! if it weren't for sergeant Sato and sergeant Nishizumi, then both of them would surely be dead and the army would have your asses court martialed!"
Kaito held back sigh in frustration, at Kenichi and Ichiro, but mostly of himself. "I'm sorry sir. I promise i will make them get along and this will never happend again." Kaito said, ashamed of what he had done- or rather not done to prevent the conflict between his crews from escalating. And instead throw that responsibility to a nineteen year old kid.
"It better be sergeant. Because if you didn't then they will get themself killed and because you shared a tank with them, you're going down with them! Is that understood?" Kanagawa yelled.
Getting yelled like this didn't sit well with Kaito at all, he was a sergeant for god's sake! But he endured, knowing he deserved the criticism. While trying his hard to avert the Lieutenant gaze, Kaito respond with the usual. "Yes sir." Trying his hardest to hide the shame in his voice.
"Good. You're dismissed."
"Sir."
After Kanagawa return to his own tank, Kaito climb onto the hatch of his own. All the while he kept chastising himself for being so stupid to make a timid nineteen year old in charge of two soldiers in their mid twenties that loathed each other.
He just hoped he could control his crew better in the future.