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Day 1
"You will do what you're told to do! When you're told to do it! And without question!"
"Do you understand!"
"''''''''''''"Yes sir!"""""""""""
Loud, everyone was
"You will walk through these silver hatches! Once and never again! Do you understand!"
"""""""""Yes sir!"""""""""
*Click*
*Click*
*Click*
A phone picked up
"Please do not send any food or bulky items to me in the mail!"
"I will contact you in 7 to 9 days by letter by my new address!"
"Thank you for your support, goodbye for now!"
A call ended
"Now get in here!"
"""""""Yes sir!"""""""""
"Wear your uniform!"
"""""'""Yes sir!""""""""
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Day 3
*Huff*
(I wanna die)
*Huff*
There he laid, on his bed, broken and battered
*Huff*
(I really wanna die)
*Huff*
His words
*Huff*
(Why did I even sign up for this?)
*Huff*
Sorrowful
*Huff*
"Hey there, man"
From below, a voice sounded
Broken and battered as well, even more than him
A look below and
"You got a spare towel?
A blond man, hair sleek and laid back, eyes of blue, a body of good proportions
A face of great proportions
Annoyed, a little, he was
"Eh, ah...yeah"
His awkward response
A towel handed to him
"Thanks"
Said by this blondie
Gratitude given, gratitude accepted
The towel, used on himself, rubbed in all his upper parts
Sweat all over, absorbed by the towel
Dripping even
"Here"
Towel, returned
"Ah, yeah"
Yet not accepted
(I can understand why, it can't be helped after all...but still, this is disgusting, you shouldn't have returned it)
"Hnnnggnn"
Stretches and a pained breath
That breath, it wasn't his
"I'm Logan...Logan Holl"
His introduction uncalled for
Yet he gave it
"What about you, man?"
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.
.
"Not the talker, huh?"
As Logan turned his back
"Hachiman...Hachiman Hikigaya "
As Logan saw
A sporty smile, slipping into this Logan's face
"Yeah, nice meetin you pal"
"Uh, yeah"
(Oi, we're not pals!)
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Day 5
"Climb those bars!"
"""""""Yes sir!""""""""
All across the field
Grunts resounded, pained and tortured
Screams filled with torment
*Grunts*(Oh this is hard! This is hard!)
*Grunts*
"What's wrong Hachiman?"
"Can't pull yourself up?"
There, this athletic blondie, with pain hidden well, confident he was, joking as he held on
"Shut up..."
*Grunts*
"You better hold tight Hachiman"
"I know...now shut up"
*Grunts*
Holding on for dear life he continued
Yet his hands have limits
And so, immediately noticed
Those hands, slowly and slowly slipping
Falling was almost inevitable
Falling was inevitable
Those hands, gave up
"Ah"
A fall, he prepared, yet it never came
His hand, gripped tight, too tight
And above him, a figure once equal to him
"Told you to hang on"
A smirk on his face
Logan, his hands barely latched on Hachiman
"Hey, you're actually pretty heavy, you should hang on now"
"Yeah, thanks"
Heavy, Hachiman was lifted
Onto the bars he now held again
Tighter and tighter
But even so
*Grunts*
(This is really really hard!)
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Day 8
["Hello, this is recruit Hikigaya"]
["Yeah, yeah, enough of that"]
Over the phone, the conversation made
["First off, I'm grateful that you did that for me"]
["No problem kid"]
["So, 8 days in and you're still hanging?"]
["Just barely"]
["Can't be helped"]
["You came to me as a scrawny brat and I bet you still are"]
[*Grunt*]
"Really, who would've thought"
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("Name: Hachiman Hikigaya")
("Age: 17")
("You never finished?")
Papers flipped and flipped
("Japanese, grew up in Chiba")
("Came from a normal family, the eldest child, you have a sister?")
A middle aged man, nearing his 60's said so
("Anyway, it's surprising how fluent you are, you can even write and read")
There he is, the young man sitting
("So, you want to enlist?")
A dim room
("Yes")
The first words said by someone else
("Ok...ok")
More and more, papers flipped
("Pretty sporty, huh")
("On our tests, you scored pretty well, y'know")
This man, leaning closer
("So, tell me, do you have a reason for doing this?")
The young man, sitting, and now, his mouth made to open, curving, and changing form, yet no words came, eyes swimming through this space, yet finally, a voice now sounded
("I-
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["Ahh, I'll never forget what you said that day"]
["Please do, it's kinda embarrassing"]
["Hahaha, no running away now kid, you're gonna face it all whether you like it or not"]
Silence for 5 seconds
Grins stuffed with trust, respect, admiration, from both sides
["Well, times up kid, see ya later"]
["Yes, you too"]
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Day 10
"Get in! Go! Go! Go!"
As he yelled
Dozens of men enter a room
And with a close
A room, closed from the outside
With that, starts...
Literal hell
"Ahhhhhh!"
"Raaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhh!"
Everywhere, screams devoured everyone's ears
Yet everyone wore a mask
Even the pain can't be heard
(Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!)
Even he, was no match for the burning fire
It continued
Every part of his skin, every inch of being, all molested by fire
Yet it was not fire
Tear gas, it was
5 minutes of pure suffering
All finished, when...
A door opens
Immediately, as if instinct, everyone all ran
What met them all outside was, true relief
The masks they wore, stripped they were from their faces
He was no different
On all fours, inside him he screams
(I really feel like dying right now!)
So was another
Logan, on all fours as well
"Ahhhhhhh!"
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Day 13
"Seriously man, that's a lot"
"What is?"
Loud, a cafeteria
"Aren't you full yet?"
Logan asks
A look below him, indeed, that's a lot of food, he thought
"Free food"
"The food's not even gourmet y'know"
"Free food is free food"
"Well, not like its bad, actually, you need to put some meat on your bones"
"Oh shut it, it's not like I'm a twig"
"You are to me"
(Guh, I'll shove a twig up your-)
*Fweet!*
A whistle blown throughout the room
"What are you sissies doing? Less talking more eating!"
An order everyone heard
"C'mon! Shove 'em up your mouths!"
"Welp, we better get eating"
As Logan says so, he looks to the person in front of him, and a playful grin emerges
"Can't waste food, y'know, that's why..."
"Good luck shoving 'em up your mouth Hachiman"
A chuckle he gave
A frown he made
(*Sigh* let's dig in...)
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Day 17
"A straight thrust! Understand?"
"""""""Yes sir!"""""""""
"You kill that opponent! You understand?"
"""""""Yes sir!"""""""""
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.
"""""""Yeah!"""""""""'
Cheering, men, pugil sticks all around
In sight, two men at each other's opposites, there, they thrust with all their might
The cheers continued
"Hit him in the head!"
"Bash his skull!"
"Thrust harder!"
The perfect activity
The pent-up tension, aggression, malice, purposely used for combat, purposely played with were their emotions
*Fweet!*
"Alright! That's enough for you two...next! You!"
A finger, a single finger, pointed to...
Him
(Me?)
The next to fight, he was chosen
Standing up, now to the stage he approached
Tension, anxiety, doubt
He felt all that
"Alright, now you! You fight too!"
A finger pointed, somewhere in the crowd
A finger pointed, and a figure stood up
"Hey, Hachiman"
(*Sigh*)
Logan, his opponent
.
.
Armor, now worn
Sticks, now handed
Each opponent, ready
*Fweet!*
A whistle given, and a match that starts
""""""""Yeah!"""""""""
"Sorry, man"
Logan, he closes the distance, with strength, with speed, he heads towards him
(Kuh, it can't be helped)
Hachiman, he as well charges, with everything in him, he charges
The two, a collision made
"Get 'em good!"
"You got this!"
"Thrust harder!"
A collision, both bodies charging to the other, yet only a few seconds it lasted
"Aaaaaahhh!"
Forceful, Logan pushed with all his might
Pushed back, Hachiman fell to the ground
*Fweet*
"Ok! That's enough! Next! You two!"
Footsteps, Logan approaches
"You okay bud?"
A hand reached out
And so, he accepts the hand
"I'm okay, I'm not dead yet"
Both chuckled
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Day 23
"Up down! Up down!"
"Keep it going!"
Pushups
Truly a labor
"Is that the best you can do?"
""""""""No sir"""""""""
"Then keep going!"
(*Puff* *Puff* haaaaaa)
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Day 27
["Hello, this is recruit Hikigaya"]
["Enough with that kid, you're wasting time"]
["*Sigh* Fine"]
["Anyway, first things first, are you dead yet?"]
["I wish I was...not yet"]
["Haha, kids like you..."]
["So, can you still hold on?"]
["Barely"]
["Hahahaha! Don't be like that! Don't be like that!"]
["I'm sure you're more than "Barely" hangin on"]
["The real question is...do you want to? Or not"]
["..."]
Silence from the other side, from that very side, was a young man, with a face, serious, conflicted, and unsure
What to answer, what to say, what is his true goal?
Such thoughts, surely, they all existed
What followed, was a new face, a face surely different from the last
["I'm gonna hold on...I want to hold on"]
["See? That's the spirit"]
["Once you get outta there, I'll treat ya one day"]
["Then I can't fail now, I'll look forward to that day"]
["Hehe, me too kid, me too"]
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Day 35
"All of you are gonna swim!"
"""""""Yes sir!"""""""""
"Both in land! And in water, like a snake, you're deadly"
""""""""Yes sir!"""""""""
"Now go!"
Splashes and splashes
Everyone swam
Differences in abilities were shown
Some, moved as if born on water
While others, weighed down quickly
Different he was
Fluent was his body with the water, movements efficient and quick
"Nice swimming there, Hikigaya"
"Thank you sir!"
"Now keep going"
"Yes sir!"
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Day 40
"A marine is first and foremost?"
"""""""""A rifleman!""""""""""
"Good!"
"You better put lead on the target!"
"""""""""Yes sir!""""""""""
"And you sure as hell should know...who the target is and who isn't!"
"""""""Yes sir!"""""""""
"Get to shooting!"
"""""""Yes sir!"""""""""
Bullets sounded through the fields, hundreds of shots made
The targets showered from all directions
Some had the aim of an eagle
While others, couldn't even shoot the target
Bullets and bullets
*Bang bang bang!*
*Bang bang bang!*
*Pew pew pew!*
*Pew pew pew!*
"Good shooting, Holl"
"Thank you sir!"
A compliment for Logan
In a certain space, someone else's bullets resounded
Yet what made them different, was where they went
*Bang*
*Bang*
*Bang*
Hit after hit, somehow, they ended the same
The same position
"Impeccable aim you got there, Hikigaya"
"Thank you sir"
"You...wanna...try the sniper?"
"Can I?"
A chuckle
"Ey Briggs! Get me a sniper!"
What followed
A mini test
"Distance: 200 meters, one shot, can you make it?"
"I'll try"
Laying on the ground, stable, secure, his eye masked by the scope, his focus, on the target ahead of him, a single shot
As the target comes into view, his focus heightened even more
With a steady silence, the other recruits made to watch one of their own, taking such a challenge
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*Bang*
A single sound covering the field
While binoculars made to look for the target
And so...
"He did it...This son of a bitch he did it...Ayo Briggs! We snagged us a good one here!"
Cheers for a comrade, it started
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Day 43
A room, white all over
Rather than anything physical
"You can't all be muscles"
"We aren't barbarians, we need etiquette"
"First aid"
"Policies"
"Values"
"What it takes to be a marine and more"
"You gotta learn all of these, understand?"
"""""""Yes sir"""""""""
Education was it?
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"Parties, whether formal or informal, during these kinds of gatherings, what do you wear?"
A hand raised up
"Hikigaya?"
"Something modest, with some practicality, maybe with a hidden weapon or two"
"Good, and why is that?"
"Anything can happen, even if you're a fighter, if you're not prepared for a fight, than you're no more than a civilian"
"Good answer"
"Smart answer"
"Good thinking Hikigaya"
"Thank you sir"
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Day 47
"Push! Push! Push!"
What was then screams of agony
Now, only huffs of breath
Pain transformed into irritation
"Good Hikigaya, you look less like a twig now"
(Is everyone calling me that?)
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Day 52
"Hey man"
"Yo"
A normal greeting
*Huff*
"Here"
What was handed out, a towel
"Thanks"
Gratitude by Logan, as sweat filled the towel, a simple relief of irritation
"You're not really all that tired huh"
"Perhaps"
"And here I am, sweating buckets"
"Logan, I may look ok, but my legs are dead"
"Really?"
To the leg, to his leg, given was a simple pinch, yet, commonly, it would hurt
"Oh, you're right"
"Well, can't go to hell and back unscathed"
"Definitely"
A little bit of interest, Hachiman makes for a conversation
"You never told me why you enlisted"
"Well, let's just say, my dad almost kicked me out"
"Well, it'll be fun to see the look on their faces when they see me"
"What about you, any family?"
"A sister in Chiba, if anyone touches her, I'll kill them"
"Hahahaha! What's up with that? Are you one of those siscons in those Anime?"
(Like hell I'm a siscon)
"It's not like that"
"Yeah yeah, sorry, you're right, we have some things to protect"
"..."
"Well, enough about that, anyway, I heard that tomorrow, they're serving up ice cream, I'm a little excited"
(What are you, a kid?)
"I don't have much of a sweet tooth"
"Aww c'mon, don't be a mood killer, even just a bit is okay"
"Fine, one bite"
"Aww yeah!"
*Fweet*
"You two over there! Pipe it down"
(It's already night time after all)
"Haha, anyway, let's look forward for tomorrow"
"Yeah...ok"
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Day 56
"Up down! Up down!"
"Keep it going!"
"Up down! Up down!"
"Hikigaya, Holl! Nice form!"
""Thank you sir!""
"But not good enough! Give me more!"
""Yes sir!""
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Day 60
*Pssshhh*
Water raining down
And a room, where no clothing is present
"You're surprisingly ok with this"
Logan said so, an innocent question
"We bathe in public, it's nothing new to me"
Ahh, of course, the Japanese
"Ok, that's a little weird, but ok"
"Hey do you have some soap?"
Logan asks
"Here"
A soap handed down, yet the receiver dropped it
"What the hell!?"
In confusion, Logan screams
"What? What's wrong?"
"Hey, Hachiman..."
"Yeah?"
"Are you actually Asian?"
"Yeah, why?"
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Day 65
"Here, want some chips?"
"No, I'm good"
"Suit yourself"
Said Logan as crunches sounded in his mouth
"So, Hachiman, what do you wanna do?"
"Do what"
"After this is all over"
"..."
"Go right into action? Lay low for a bit? Wanna hit on girls at the beach?"
"Go to hell"
"Aww c'mon I'm not that much of a playboy, don't look at me like that"
"Girls huh...not really interested"
"Not even one girl?"
"Yeah, not even one-
(Ah...)
"Not even one"
"Next you're gonna tell me you never had a girlfriend"
"..."
"Wait really?"
"Yeah"
"After this is all over, we're going to a club"
"No need, not my thing"
"Just one night, one night with a girl, and let's make you a man"
"Like hell I'm doing that"
"It'll be awesome"
"And what about you?"
A thumbs up, Logan made, a big smile with pride
"I'm experienced, I had amazing nights"
(Chi, normie scum)
"Hey, did you just click your tongue?"
"No I did not"
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Day 69
A dark, quiet room, all other recruits outside
There, a shadow roamed about
"Logan...you in here?"
Searching and searching
When sound came from a corner, he followed such sound
"Is anyone her-
What he saw, he closed his mouth
His eyes, locked on to another's
"Hachiman...?"
"Logan...are you?"
"Yeah..."
"..."
"..."
"Fine...make it quick"
And so, Hachiman leaves
"Hey! It can't be helped y'know! I've been a little pent up!"
"Hey! Listen to me-
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Day 70
"Hey"
"Yeah?"
"Let's forget about yesterday..."
"Yeah...
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Day 73
"Get 'em good!"
"You got this Johnny!"
"Thrust harder!"
Filled with aggression, filled with anger, and now, tinted with accuracy, with sharpness, enough more deadly than ever
Those pugil sticks worn out, filled with sweat, with dirt, with everything
*Fweet*
"Alright! Next, Hikigaya, and also...Holl!"
"Again huh"
"Again huh"
*UOOOOOOOWWWW*
Screams, yelling as they are, loud is this field
With armor on, and pugils ready, determined for combat these two were
The stage is set, and...
*Fweet*
The start of the battle
Immediately, a collision already made, a large thud sounded
"You got this!"
"Keep going! Keep going!"
"Thrust harder!"
An initial clash, now they make distance
Removed from each other's bodies, their eyes busy as they analyze
Puffs and puffs, heavy breathing
Now, both move again
The big clash, not, rather more calculated
Especially him
Their eyes gazing each other's bodies
They move again, the pugils erected straight, yet both dodge both attacks
What's shoved next, however, their bodies, contact made yet again, with force offered to its fullest, neither backing down
Continuous, continuous, the same pattern repeated
(*Puff* He isn't backing down...dammit)
He stayed still
Yet Logan, not
A sprint, fast with weight still, a final attack Logan will make
(Ah! That could work)
In retaliation, a sprint as well for him, both to their fullest, both with speed, with power, with intent
A huge thud
Another, this one, big, maybe bigger than the first one even
Yet only a second it lasted
For after that second, he immediately pulled off
(Yes! Now...)
With the force given to Logan, he retracted, now for his next move
(And...now!)
With the part red, like a lance, the pugil, thrusted straight
Blunt and heavy yet with masterful speed
The pugil, stabbed staright to Logan
"Gaahh!"
And with such a blow
Another thud, a body fell
Logan fell
*Fweet!*
A match that ended
To Logan, a figure walked to him
From up above, straight to his face
A true reversal, now he's in his spot
Hachiman
With a hand, open, and reaching
"You okay, bud?"
A slightly shocked face, Logan made
What came after, Logan's grin
"Yeah...yeah, I'm not dead yet...but that hurt, that hurt like hell!"
The hand that reached, was received
Both chuckled
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Day 75
"Alright! From worms to sissies, now is the final step!"
"Are you ready?"
"''''''''''''"Yes sir!"""""""""""
"I SAID! ARE YOU READY!"
"''''''''''''"YES SIR!"""""""""""
"Good! Now be prepared for your last moment in hell!"
"It's gonna be more hell than hell!"
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.
Loud, ludicrously loud
So was this area
Footsteps of everyone, the ground rumbles
A sky dimly lit by the stars, still too early
Not enough sleep
Heavy bodies indeed
The crucible had begun
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.
.
Morning has come, in a field, they are
In their hands, an ammo can, rushing through
An obstacle course
And some unlucky soul to make a mistake
"You four! 15 burpees!"
"""Yes sir!""""
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.
.
Hours passed, a new activity
"Punch harder!"
A dummy being hit
He hits them
"Hikigaya! That's not enough! Harder!"
"Yes sir"
"Louder!"
"Yes sir!"
"Not enough! Put some effort! Who are you actually punching? Your sister? Or your enemy"
(Komachi?)
Teeth gritted
Tension sparked
"Enemy!"
"More!"
"Oraaaaaa!"
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.
.
Now, into the octagon
A cage of wood
Trapped inside
Fight or lose, its here
"Ahhhhh!"
The pugil, its presence returned
Armored and ready
To let lose, now was the time
"Get him in the face!"
"Thrust harder!"
*Fweet*
"Loser: Hikigaya! Winner: Bizinger!"
Swift he moves, Hachiman: to the penalty box
"Embarrassing, embarrassing"
Said by an instructor
(I know, I know)
"Up down! Up down!"
"Hikigaya, were you even serious?"
"Did you even put up a fight?"
"Yes sir"
"Then tell me, if someone is in danger, are you gonna half-ass it?"
"No sir!"
"Then get back there, and do it again!"
"Yes sir!"
Into the cage, he reenters, this time, not with a pugil, but with gloves, boxing gloves
A head protected, only the head
His opponent appears
With that...
*Fweet!*
His redemption begins
"AHHHH!"
"FURYAAA!"
"Break his ribs!"
"Get a good hit!"
"Harder!"
Even those who instructed insinuated
Jabs and jabs, each proved fatal
*Jab*
In his ribs, he receives a blow, a clean strike
(Gah!)
What escaped his mouth was...blood
Instead of retrieving himself, instead of escaping
The blood, wiped off his face with his closed fist
Resume to battle, is what he expressed
His opponent, wary, yet ready to give a second blow
(Not now...definitely not now, not anymore!)
This time, he dodges, and now
*Pow*
A stomach, his opponents stomach, hit clean with a powerful strike
Just like he had, his opponent as well, blood spilling
*Fweet!*
"Winner: Hikigaya! Loser: Felix!"
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.
.
"Move! Move!"
"Cover him!"
"Advance!"
A simulation?
Almost like the real one
Continuing and continuing
Since the start, 27 hours have already passed
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.
.
"These things are so and so"
Said as he took a bite
"Right? Logan"
"Yeah, hey Thomas, can you get me that backpack?"
"Sure"
"Hey, Hachiman, is that all you're gonna eat?"
"Hmm, yeah"
"I'm saving them up for now"
"Well, ok..."
"So Hachiman was it? Do you have a girlfriend? I'm Sean by the way"
A man of average build, with somewhat average hair, with glasses
"Nice to meet you, Sean"
His voice, sounded friendly, too friendly, it was...off
"And also, no"
Yet quickly, it returned to monotone, with a hint of threatening
(Why are these people always asking me that?)
"Yeah, me too"
(*Gasp* a comrade?)
"Hey, did you know? Hachiman has a sister, and I heard she's pretty cute"
"Oi, Logan, what are you talking about?"
"You told me: "She's the cutest in the world" no take backs"
"I'm not"
"What!? You have a sister!? Please let me meet her!"
"Like hell I am! I'm not letting any pests get anywhere near her"
"Oh, he's in siscon mode"
"Shut up Logan"
"Hahahaha! What's with that!"
"Anyway, fine, I'll hold off for now, let's get to eating"
(I think I'm already full)
.
.
.
"You gotta go! Save his life!"
"Yes sir"
"He's bleeding out and dying!"
"My leg!"
A sermon, truly, as he saves a life
He pretends to save a life
"His leg just got blown off! Are you gonna let him die?"
"No sir"
An instructor, right in his ears
"Faster!"
"When push comes to shove, you need to know what to do and how to do it!"
"Yes sir"
"Right now, you're a disappointment, now I know..."
"You can't do anything"
(Go to hell!)
Lumbering movements, charging forward, steady, yet it accelerates
"That's it! Faster! Faster!"
"What are you gonna do right now?"
A question for him, and he chooses
He consoles the wounded
"It's gonna be okay, I'm here"
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.
.
"Get down! Now!"
"Fire!"
So is said, as the sound of war travels through the ears
Loud, confusing, irritating, everything, suffering
The speakers that surround this space, they were all responsible
Explosions all around, yet no actual destruction
Bullets rained, yet none actually fired
"He's dying! Whether you like it or not, you're gonna get him out of here! And he's gonna be safe!"
"Yes sir!"
.
.
.
38 hours
The rain came for a visit
The sand, it went, mud everywhere
There he was, there they were
Traveling through this mud, traveling, pushing through
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.
.
"I'm jumping"
"""""Jump away!"""""
A fall, he was to fall
And he was to be caught
A trust fall
There he goes, as he jumps, as gravity went its course, he fell
Instead of the ground, what caught him were several arms
"See, I knew you could do it"
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.
.
"So, he's still standing there?"
"I know"
"He said he'll be on guard"
"Is that true, Logan?"
"Even though he doesn't need to"
"Well, I think its ok"
Said by an African American
"Me too, Marcus"
Marcus, identified as the African American
"Well, I just wish he'll finally introduce me to her sister"
"Sean, I think he definitely wouldn't"
"It's ok, I'll persevere"
"You're more gung-ho about meeting his sister than getting this over?"
"Yeah Chandler, yeah, I am"
Said to a somewhat lean man, with short hair
"Well after this, let's go to a party"
"Hey Hachiman! Wanna go to a party after this?"
"Logan, I told you"
"Just one party"
(Hmph, these idiots, well, the only party I need is a nap)
"Fine, I'll go"
.
.
.
All that remains
The only distance left for all of them
14 Kilometers
A cruel walk, a walk that will give them relief
The final walk
Breaths that carried pure weight
Footsteps that rumbles the earth
Broken minds
*Thud!*
*Thud!*
*Thud!*
And a line crossed
The crucible had ended.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
A lobby loud, echoing through everyone's ears
Cheers galore
Flags held up high, so were their heads
In this lobby, in this hall, cheers galore, for they have passed
Cheers galore from family and friends
Held up high were their heads, with pride in them as they had climbed out of hell
With their own bare hands
Cheers galore, they celebrated
Graduation day has come
For they are now marines
Happy smiles, hugs as far as the eye can see
Family, friends, lovers, all came as they celebrated
Yet, he, he was somewhere else
Somewhere far, unnoticed he was
Just a shadow, a forgotten presence
"What are you doing here?"
Yet one has not forgotten him
"Why aren't you celebrating? c'mon, party a little"
"How can I even do that?"
"Came a brat, still a brat"
"Anyway, congratulations"
"Thanks to you"
"I didn't do anything though"
"Well, thanks anyway, you were a big help, I'll admit that"
"What a shy brat"
"But...aren't you happy?"
"I don't know"
"Wow, you really are a first"
In this single corner, they stood, an old man, a young man, far away from the smiles and cheers in front of them
"You met some people huh"
"They're decent, at the very least"
"Sheesh, its weird hearing that from you"
"Buzz off, old man"
"Who're you calling an old man? I can still put up a fight or two"
"Where's the respect from earlier? Weren't you thanking me?"
"Now you're taking my gratitude? Some old man you are, and also, I'm not a brat anymore"
"..."
This old man, silent and still, as he observes the changes, live and up close, he had noticed
And with a grin prideful
"Hehe, you're right, you're no brat no more"
"Now then, let's go outside, let's eat and get wasted"
"I'm still underage you know"
"Doesn't matter now"
This old man, he closes the distance, and grabs him with his arm, his arm on this young man's shoulder
"H-hey, could you let go?"
"No, we're gonna party like real men tonight"
"H-hey, I'm tired, I want to go to bed"
"No no no, at a time like this, the first thing you do is drink"
And so, this old man starts walking, with this young man awkwardly caged in his arms
"Fine, let's go eat something, I'm still hungry"
"That's the spirit!"
A grinning old man
An awkward young man
They walk off, to have their own fun
These gruesome weeks
Surprisingly youthful
Hell incarnate
They now have come to an end
Gentlemen, a long, drawn out author's note will come right after.
Kiryu