Shirogane Takeru
October 22, 2001
Yokohama barracks
Exit elevator to the left, take the second right hallway, run away from the boulder, go straight down the third hallway on the left, enter Mordor, my room should be the fourth door.
When it came to many factors of life, I was made to be a big fan of grand performances and extravagant displays. However as said by Leonardo da Vinci: 'Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.' And in the case of my quarter, that wasn't too far from the truth.
The dirtied white marble sink, the creaking metal bunk on the verge of falling apart any night, the cheap wooden desk and a single door closet; this was where I lived for many years according to my decaying memory, this was a room I called home for the longest time.
After I dumped off the random array of household items not known to this world, I took a quick rest to mentally prepare myself for another meeting with the team of girls exercising down by the field. Like so many of our introductions that came before it, I was quite determined to leave a historic first impression regardless of good or bad.
Yokohama base, training field
As I slowly walked over by where my future team was training, the sight of a single girl running laps while enduring her ever-increasing-fatigue caught my eyes. A single blue pony-tail tied at an impossible angle swayed gently in the wind from her exercise. Droplets of her sweat reflected a meek ray of the afternoon sunlight, reminding me of the many similar trials prior in my life.
"Excuse me. You there." Finally taking notice of an unregistered presence; the girl, Meiya called out to me who approached her.
Alright, I trained for this.
"My dude." Of all the possibilities of my first line of dialogue to one of my most precious friends, this phrase in particular I had practiced for a long time.
"Hm? Excuse me?"
"My good man."
"Apologies, but I must ask you to repeat that."
"My fine comrade of whom is objectively viewed as a gentleman."
"…You seem to be mistaken, I shall make it as clear as ever right here. I am a female." Meiya casually glanced at me in mild confusion, my intentional blunder caused slight frustration for her which she skillfully hid beneath her demeanor.
"…To this fellow Homo sapiens of the male gender in his late teen years of which I consider to be mine in a purely metaphorical sense as a fitting and satirical representation of our good friendship."
"You—! Hooh…! I see you dare to deliberately insult me after I fully explained how I am not a man! Is this a form of challenge towards me, stranger!? In that case, prepare yourself!"
In that moment, I seriously thought about whipping Meiya's ass for the laughs, seeing how unease she was feeling due to my unnatural attitude of not giving a flying fuck. However it just didn't seem right to blow my nicely knitted cover so early in the game, thus I just calmly studied Meiya and her A-P bazooka hair for what felt like an eternality.
"-That's enough! Both of you stop immediately!" Thankfully, a familiar voice came to my rescue not a second sooner.
"Instructor?! But this strange man here could be a potential threat!" Some not-very-kind-words were shouted by the purple-haired samurai.
From my blind spot, the one and only mentor of the 207th Training Squad waved off Meiya's caution. Jinguuji Marimo put some hassle into her steps as she jogged over to where I stood, eyeing me up and down suspiciously without any love in her gaze.
"You are Shirogane Takeru?"
"Yup, that's me alright." Funnily, my casual reply brought only an unhappy glare from Marimo-chan, yet she responded nothing more.
"…Then this man is…"
"Ahhh… 207th Squadron! Assemble!" Hearing their Instructor's booming voice, the rest of the cadet Company gathered without delay.
"207th Squadron assembled!" The girl who called out once all the members surrounded us was Chizuru, her over-sized glasses I haven't had the pleasure of seeing made itself known as her most impactful feature. The O.G pair was always my favourite for how comically satirical their design was.
"Good… then I'll introduce him. This is Cadet Shirogane Takeru. Recently assigned to the 207th squad."
"It's a pleasure meeting you girls. I hope that we can get along fine in the future." I honestly couldn't think of anything witty to say without leaving a terrible first impression.
"As you can see, he's a man. You're probably surprised to see a male recruit nowadays. But until recently, he was exempt from the draft." Marimo-chan's introduction was something I had the displeasure of hearing again and again countless times.
"Being a civvie was fun while it lasted, but since I'm here I'll be working hard as a solider." Each of the girls were scanning me discreetly, trying to figure out the personality of their newest member.
"He will be training with us starting tomorrow. Understand?"
"Yes, ma'am!" Everyone answered loudly.
"For now, eat with him and learn to get along. Afterwards, Sakaki, you will escort him to the barracks and give him anything he needs." As the events headed towards its scripted conclusion, I wasn't too eager to repeat every single step of my early days.
"Actually, I won't be needing any guides. I was already given one in detail before I arrived here."
If some dipshit tells me the PX means café one more time I'm gonna smash his ugly mug with an even uglier mug.
"Is that so, Shirogane? Then we'll continue training for the remaining ten minutes. You can stay there and watch."
"Understood."
—
I observed everyone as they ran the marathon. It was clear as day that their stamina and speed was severely dreadful, watching them pant and gulp for air after only running ten klicks really was pitiful no matter how many times I witnessed this scene.
I remembered back in some of my more successful loops where everyone was around the same skill level as me, the times when we were able to cut through hordes and armies like they were the frail vases and plates shown in museums resurfaced within my mind.
Yet with every failure, I came back stronger and better while everyone else was forced back to the starting line. My teammates, my closest friends were unwillingly made back into mere novices while I became the only one who reaped all the benefits. It really made me think, if they were the ones with my power, maybe they could have already saved the world from its disastrous end.
Well, unlucky.
Yokohama Base, PX
"Man, these wooden chairs are really uncomfortable." Sitting down along with the rest of my recently acquainted Squadron at the PX, Meiya, Tama and Chizuru took the seats across from me while Ayamine sat to my left.
"…Wanna buy us better ones?" As expected of the quirky witty Ayamine, she was the first one to continue my statement.
"Nope, although I should get a special one for myself, like the black leather chair the Professor has."
"I don't think they'll allow that, Shirogane. And besides, if you don't know this, your paycheck is frozen until you graduate from training. They'll let you buy a couple of things from the store, but until you become a soldier your money can't be used wildly." Chizuru did her classic pose with her index finger sticking out as she explained our economic situation to someone who fortunately didn't have to deal with it.
"Alright, sweet protip, Class rep. Will keep in mind."
"…Class rep? Are you referring to me?"
"You know, back when I was in high school- right. I had a Class rep, actual one, who looked like your twin sister, Chizuru."
"Don't just start calling people by their first name, Shirogane!" Making a passable argument while also flustering feverishly didn't really help strengthen her justification. Chizuru crossed her arms in what I could only call tsundere anger and upsettingly glared at me.
"Sure, sure. You just kinda remind me of her, with those ridiculously round glasses screaming 'I'm the world's best nerd!' and all… it's a real throwback for me."
"Well, that's not really an excuse, you know!?"
"…C'mon now… don't be like that. My old Class rep was a strict person, a harsh person. But under her tsundere tendencies lay a true, friendly girl who is always kind and accepting. And it's just… I think you're someone quite similar to someone I deeply respect and care about." Chizuru slightly averted my gaze, not remotely helping me in brightening the mood.
"Shirogane…" The details of that tale may not be there, but the feeling beneath it came from my very heart.
"So yeah, sorry about that, Sakaki. I do miss her, in a lot of ways." I ended my short story, along with it the recollection of me and Class rep back in our old world and this one. We spent many hours together, the times when our mutual feelings never died down.
"So where is she now, Shirogane-san?" Tama asked me, her expression of joy for my happiness was shown clearly on her cat-like face. It was such a genuine face, it was the appearance of a truly nice individual.
"…I'm gonna not talk about that… if you can understand." Realizing the simple meaning of my withdrawal from further discussion, no one said much else as we sat in gloomy silence.
"But you know… that's just how things are. There're happy days I can laugh to and sad days I can cry to. Living life isn't so easy with how the world is, so I think it's important to remember the good times when they're gone." Not one big on philosophy myself, I didn't talk too much about my own experience.
"…How deep. Are you Plato junior?" Ayamine made quite a discrete connection.
"I see that you also come from difficult past, my condolences to you, Shirogane."
"It's okay, Shirogane-san. Let's work together and create more memories to enjoy!"
"Shirogane… I guess I won't mind if you call me Class rep, but don't go overboard with it, okay?" I was really lucky to have these friends, I could feel their kindness even when we only knew each other for a few hours.
"Then don't present me with opportunities too much, I live off memes, you see." Rays of confused stares were the answer to my warning.
"…Proceeding onwards, Shirogane. The Instructor asked me to give this to you." Meiya called to me once the previous talk ended. It was a piece of paper she handed me, it had words on them.
"Ah, thanks, Mitsurugi. Shirogane, have that memorized by tomorrow. You have to recite the oath in order to enlist."
"An enlistment oath? Alright I got this." The paper was stashed away at a rush, I didn't want to bring up anything about this oath considering how it would be broken to pieces in the near future.
"Another thing, Shirogane."
"Uh-huh?"
"I'll be blunt. Can we… expect much out of you? Instructor Jinguuji told us you were a 'special person'. So is that 'special' compared to us? Or everyone in the country? On this planet?" This age-old dilemma was freshly offered to me once again, I shuffled backwards leaning into my seat, thinking about a solution to their curious and vital inquiry.
"I'm a 'special person' huh…? It's pretty complicated, I want to believe I'm capable of many things, and I have in fact done many things. But… how should I say this… I've been going forward to reach a goal really far away, and I'm doing what I can to achieve it. So in that sense, I'm good for who I am."
"One's competence is composed of experience and willpower, I see you have gathered plentiful of both, Shirogane." Meiya confidently nodded to me, smiling gently and trustfully.
"Professor Kouzuki and Instructor Jinguuji both have faith in him! I'm sure he'll be fine!" Tama also supported my cause.
"…I hope so." Ayamine, the girl that never forgets to comment.
"A month from now, there'll be a Comprehensive Combat Skill Evaluation. We have to win this time." Class rep brought up the next topic just like I predicted.
"We have over a week, so Yoroi should return in time to join us. We need the 207th Squadron to be as strong as possible when the time comes." Following up, Meiya informed me about our missing fifth member.
"Yoroi Mikoto. I wonder what she's like."
"Huh… you know her?" A reasonable reaction from Class rep. I did bring up Mikoto's full name, in any case.
"I read all your files from Professor Kouzuki before I joined. I know stuff like basic backgrounds and such. Should be discharged soon, that girl."
"Yes, we have over a week. Well, Yoroi's skills, especially in survival are second to none. She will be much needed if we want to pass the Comprehensive Combat Skill Evaluation." Chizuru said with ample enthusiasm.
"Sounds good, I'll do whatever I can to help."
"Excellent, we're expecting a lot coming from you, Shirogane. And hopefully it won't end disastrous like the last time."
Truth be told, I was somewhat convinced the girls still held grudges against each other for their previous failing. Thinking it wasn't their own fault the test went to shit or it couldn't be helped if their teammates were clueless as to the objective. Although none of them knew that attitude was the core factor to shoulder the blame, but we still had time to practice, time to fix their mistakes.
"We are free for the rest of the day, right? Can I go?" Now that our little chat passed its finale, I asked for dismissal since I wished to see my two espers. Technically, it was more like one esper and a brain, but details, details.
"Yeah, don't forget your oath tomorrow!"
"Please, does insulting my intelligence bring you much joy?"
Sakaki Chizuru
"Shirogane Takeru. What an interesting person indeed." Chizuru's teammate, Mitsurugi mentioned her new teammate as soon as he left.
"He did say some pretty mature things, I wonder what his story is."
"Emm, don't you guys get this feeling… kind of like we had already met Shirogane-san before?" The group turned their attention to Tamase when she conveyed an unusual topic.
"…Tamase… explain."
"Well I kinda felt like we had known each other from somewhere, but it's a very vague feeling though."
"I cannot say that I understand, yet at the same time I cannot deny your claim. This is indeed quite mysterious." Mitsurugi considered about the feelings that she got without coming to a conclusion.
"Could it just because his personality? His behaviour is 'special' in many ways." Chizuru promoted another idea.
"That also could be it. I myself am not too sure about this as well."
"Maybe a weirdo."
"There isn't too much reason to think about this right now. Let's just see how things turn out."
"Yes. That would be a favourable choice." The girls ended their discussion of Shirogane behind his back.
Shirogane Takeru
Yokohama Base, the brain room
I roamed in the brain room once the doors opened. Kasumi who was in her usual corner turned and greeted me with a nod.
"Hello, Takeru-san." I assumed she was happy to see me since her nonexistent expression didn't tell me anything. Those bunny ears twitched rapidly as I patted her head, hopefully articulating her joy in reuniting with me.
Quick, who's your favourite character from Futurama!? Kasumi!
"Bender-san, I like his humour." Surprisingly solid pick from Kasumi, she could learn a thing or two from that metal tin-can man.
Nice, I think my favourite is that bald Chinese girl, that one that married an alien… I think?
"I'm certain her name is Amy Wong, I too vaguely remember someone wearing a wig in that show, although I'm not sure if it's her." She was an all-around alright character, had a really fat butt or something.
Well, who's your favourite character from Futurama… Sumika? The fictional bait dangled to a smooth beat before my eyes as I waited for the brain in a vat to react.
"Oh! Oh hello Takeru-chan! Let me just thank you for finally noticing me! As for my favourite character from Futurama- I don't really have one, you know? I mean there's just so much people to choose from, it's hard to narrow it down to one person! But if I must, I guess it'll be Mr. Ron Popeil!" The name Sumika mentioned through telepathy wasn't one I expected.
Hold on, who that?
"Oh, whaaa~! You mean you don't know, Takeru-chan!? He's the founder of Ronco! That American company that makes kitchen stuff! But he also appeared in Futurama too! As the guy who invented PUTTING HEADS INTO JARS! WHAT A FUNNY COINCIDENCE, RIGHT!?"
"…Wot in tarnation?" Her zappy high-pitched voice echoed irritatingly in my head without a stop.
"HA! You thought you fooled me yet again, TAKERU-CHAN! You and your decade-old brain jokes every time we meet! I've been waiting so long for this moment because I knew you'll eventually bring up something I know more about!"
So like… you actually watch the show?
"I GOT YOU THIS TIME, TAKERU-CHAN YOU BIG FAT DUMB IDIOT! I'll have you know I binged four seasons in two weeks' time without stopping to do anything productive!"
…A surprise, to be sure, but a welcome one. To be honest, I kinda couldn't think of an actual comeback for her. Thankfully my backup memes were abundant in supply.
"O-oh-oh w-w-wait! I know this- I know this! Errmm…! It's the part where the black guy goes like… ahem! 'In the name of the Galactic Senate of the Republic… you're under arrest, Chancellor!" Sumika's esper shout was one of gleeful eagerness and joy, perhaps having already forgotten her ill-gotten victory. Although I was glad she too understood the importance of a good delivery, meaning my follow-up had to be on par.
Are you threatening me, Master Jedi?
"The Senate will decide your fate." There it was, the punch-est of all the punch-lines, a quote that defined the Chancellor himself, many would claim. I was determined to do my Emperor proud by wonderfully executing his greatest honour.
…I am the Se—
"-I DON'T LIKE SAND."
Kasumi, who pretended to be the dormant observer this entire time had struck hard when no one expected, she screamed at the top of her lungs a line totally unrelated to our instance of a memorable scene, but also because as a Russian tube girl without any feelings, she really didn't yell that loudly; or at all. It was a lot like trying to whisper into a microphone, except the opposite.
"…Wow… wow, really, Kasumi? I thought you were better than this… This be like… a real shock to me as your parental figure, you know? I mean… interrupting a man's meme… that's quite low."
"It's treason then." Sumika too mirrored my opinion.
"Stop this, please stop this. You just got back from another death, Takeru-san. Please take things more seriously, such as how you're perceiving your new body. Have you experienced any signs of discomfort or nausea after coming to this world? Has injuries from our previous time carried over; i.e, the intruding tentacle which pe—"
"Hold up, Kasumi. You really kinda lost me."
"Where, Takeru-san?"
"When you said 'Stop'." Her dead-fish look was doing what it could to burn a hole into my chest, seemingly not afraid of fading into oblivion as she stared on.
"Seriously though, Takeru-chan! Are you feeling all good? Six-eyed Cthulhu really penetrated you hard… sexually?"
Just regularly, thank you.
"Right, and it was trying to do something pretty bad to you while you were connected… there shouldn't be any effect that could carry over from that loop to this one, but I won't be surprised if you suddenly start shedding shells like a lobster. That'll be kinda disgusting, like- ewww~ stay away from me, Takeru-chan you gooey lobster."
I too was very grateful that my current girlfriend who had a long-lasting track record of being incredibly encouraging, supportive and not-at-all prone to violent outbursts was again acting incredibly encouraging, supportive and definitely incapable of violent outbursts.
Damn girl, you're being a real cunt without even having one.
"Anyway, Maybe I can get sensei to run a couple of tests on you once I'm outta here. For now, just be careful not to be sucked into an infinite expanding spiral coming from your belly button or something, okay? Stay safe!"
Yo, you talking about that one Uzumaki chapter with the pimple girl? That manga was honestly legit scary as shit. I mean how do you get sucked into yourself? Is that even physically possible? By some strange force of nature, I was having a casual relaxing conversation with a brain in a tube.
"Oh! That's like that thing with the snake where it eats itself! Errrm…! What's it called, what's it called… it was like the seven sins people in Fullmetal!"
"Ouroboros, the word describes an image of a snake or serpent eating its own tail, forming an infinitely cycle of life and death along with other interpretations." Straight-A student Kasumi came to Sumika's rescue with a Wikipedia answer, should had gotten references next time, this was gonna lower her mark.
"Righto! I remember that's where they got the infinity symbol from… I dunno, what were we talking about again?"
Don't even remember, probably not important enough though.
"Takeru-san, fifty-three seconds earlier the discussion about your current body condition was ongoi—"
"Blah-blah-blah! We weren't being serious, Kasumi-chan! Learn to read the mood, okay?! It's just getting kinda weird since we ran out of stuff to talk about! …Welp! So how're you really feeling, Takeru-chan!? Does it… still kinda hurt or something? Strangely, a sentimental feeling of warmth whelmed me from Sumika's concerning sound message.
I'm fine, probably… can't remember everything that happened by now, I think… lots of people died again, right?
When my posted question was met with uncomfortable silence, it wasn't hard to realize when to stop. I placed my palm on the transparent glass cylinder that was separating me from Sumika and her from death, from time to time it was difficult to come to terms with my loss and my inability to learn from those mistakes.
"We're here now, you don't have to think about it, Takeru-chan! Actually, I'd prefer if you just forget most of the stuff that happened before! Like when you play your video games you've to not tile if you wanna do good!"
"Git gud, Takeru-san, git gud." The young Russian girl tugged on my left sleeve, seemingly believing her words of encouragement wasn't what tilts me ninety percent of the time.
Ahh… you dumb girls really trigger me at every opportunity, but whatever… I'll bump you outta that vat soon enough, Sumika. Anything else retarded you want to say to me? There were things I must do, not urgently, but eventually.
"I love you, Takeru-chan!"
Okay, totally retarded.
Kouzuki Yuuko's office
"This truly is a genius idea. I knew that 'other world me' could come up with something like this." Yuuko-sensei patted herself on the back, her 'other self'.
"By changing how the processor manages the coolant material. We can get use the liquid to cool down the processor and purify the coolant itself. This right here could be the first step to unlimited energy. As expected of me." My old high school teacher was very proud of her own achievement that she didn't even obtain, kinda.
"Is this all you need to complete the 00 Unit?"
"Yeah, with this theory my life long work would be complete. Come here, Shirogane. I'll give you a kiss for reward." Extremely sudden for her, sensei got up from her desk and grabbed me by the collar of my uniform while adding a seductive twirl in her steps.
"Ha… please no, you know me… or you'll know me, Yuuko-sensei. I go big or go home. I don't back down… not often." Still, being in this close proximity to one of the most gorgeous persons I've ever met was a bit embarrassing.
"Huhu~ fufufu… very bold of you, Shirogane, but sadly I have no interest in younger men." Acting in opposition of her account, sensei leaned in even further, and with her swept in the sweet aroma of women's perfume. However, she was equally quick to back off the moment I regained my reaction.
"How long will it take to bring the 00 unit back?" After our little flirt, I asked the real question.
"Very soon, I can guarantee that you can see her physical form in a week."
"Only a week, huh. That is the fastest yet in all of my loops." My second fastest record was ten days after arrival, although I was rather confident some bad shit happened in that one.
"Will there be any other problems, sensei?"
"I'm a bit worried about the unit's mental stability."
"Oh, you don't have to worry about that, sensei. I made sure with Kasumi that the 00 unit also has memories of the past." One of the many benefits of being stuck in a literal never-ending cycle of death and destruction was how I didn't have to babysit Sumika's autistic ass anymore.
"Nice, nice… hey, I got a question for you, Shirogane. How did you, Yashiro and the 00 unit preserve your memories when no one else remembers?" When I first told her who I was, I wasn't too enthusiastic about revealing myself like an open book. It was a bit uncomfortable and stuff, kinda shy about it.
"To be straightforward here sensei, I have no idea how we still remember anything. I can think of many excuses for myself, coming from a different world and all. But for Kasumi and the 00 unit, I honestly don't know." Sensei slanted her head to the side, maybe doubting my very realistic retelling of my past.
"There was one loop when I got here, Kasumi greeted me and told me that we can work together to save the world. I wasn't going to complain about having a precious friend who can accompany me in my journey throughout time." This was seriously, seriously what happened. I just woke up one day and remembered, everything.
"I guess the subject of the Causality wouldn't understand the reason behind the occurrence… whatever, if we really can save this world you can be a present from the fairy godmother for all I care." That was the attitude.
"By the way though, there is another thing I need, sensei. Can you get this stuff for me?" I changed to a new topic with a list of items I wanted her to fetch.
"Let me see… other than a single PC, I don't understand why you need these. Two bunny toys? A pair of katana? Cat tail and bell? Does starting a pawnshop help us defeat the BETA? Because if somehow it does. My entire life has been a lie." Sensei criticized about the things I demanded. Even if they were mostly just for entertainment, I still wanted something fun to play around with.
"Yuuko-sensei, leave the use of these things to me alright? Please just get them for me."
"Fine, but you should know that some items may take a while before they arrive. This world isn't at the best time to produce such merchandise. Once I get them, I'll have them sent to your room. The post office may detain you of me for having such bizarre crap though."
"This's when you pull out your diplomatic immunity and hope it doesn't get revoked by a very angry Danny Glover who's too old for this shit."
"…Huh, I know that's a movie related reference… damn it." Her genius Steven Hawken level of IQ wasn't compatible with remembering classic one-liners.
"Sensei. If nothing else, I will be going now."
"Wait. I forgot about this."
Halting my step, Yuuko-sensei waved a fancy looking envelop in the air until I took it from her hands. Inside came a single piece of paper with lots of text scribbled together as tightly as possible, whoever typed this had no clue how spacing works.
"Too lazy to read, 1st Lieutenant? Congratulations on your blackmailed promotion. Now you are officially a high-ranking officer." Cheering noises.
"Thanks sensei, everything is so fast this time, crazy!" I was used to getting a swift promotion, but never on the first day. It must be some amazing luck on my part that motivated Yuuko to do this much serious work for my sake.
"It's valid as long as you don't lose the paper, feel free to fold it for it to fit. Otherwise just show it to anyone and they will understand your true rank."
"What is my back story then?"
"It's classified. I'm just equally lazy, you know?" Classic Yuuko-sensei, never doing unnecessary work.
"Good hook up, Professor. Call me when you need me, I gotchu, fam."
"You can take you and your gibberish English elsewhere, Shirogane. You better come running like a good doggy when I blow my whistle, we clear?" Terribly disrespectful to me, and dogs, apparently.
October 23, 2001
Training field
I 'reactivated' my brain after the reciting the oath. This thing was just like the "I agree to the terms and conditions" bullshit on every program I download. Did anyone ever read all of the five hundred pages? Fuck no, just click "I Agree" and move on to the next part. This oath was the same, but even more tedious. Having to actually remember the passages.
—
"Good, now wait until the others get back. You can rest."
"Haha, love slacking off." Marimo-chan shot me a strangely judicious look out of the corner of her eye as I plummeted down onto the soft grass.
After the grand ceremony, I ran some laps along the rest of the squad when Marimo-chan ordered us to. It was a mild exercise compared to what was required of me normally during fights, a good relaxing jog was all I thought of it.
"~Haa… haa… haaaa." I saw Class rep gasping for air when she crossed the finish line, finally taking her break as well. It was understandable everyone developed at different pace, the speed of my team was generally on par with each other, although that average was painfully low compared to real veterans.
"Okay, next! Grab the gear in the cages and march ten kilometres!" Marimo-chan shouted to the team once everyone finished the first step in their daily training,
"Un-understood…" Tama and the rest of the squad received their next order, this was the time for me to shine. What I was about to do was mostly a tradition at this point, always good to play by the books.
"Yo, so like- that isn't full gear, is it? What're we even running for? A participation medal in the next Terry Fox run? I guess it's fine if we're aiming to die of cancer before crossing any finish lines, then sure."
The half awed and half angered glares from my teammates meant they knew exactly what was going to happen to me, and I would happily undertake a "punishment" if they were foolish enough to bite this bait.
"I see. Shirogane, has all that time you spent exempt from the draft given you extra energy?"
"Hell naaah! Me just some normal lazy teenager you used to be able to pick off the streets."
"Then that is no good, is it, Shirogane!? You can do it in full gear if you like, I'll have you carry a dummy machine gun too, don't be reserved!" There was basically no escaping Marimo-chan's 'mad dog' fury if I provoked her authority.
"Sure, Marimo-chan—" At that time, her brow rose a few inches too high in anger. It actually wasn't my intention to add this much fuel to her raging fire.
"HUH? WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY SHIROGANE!?"
"I mean INSTRUCTOR JINGUUJI! I will run ten klicks wearing full gear and carrying a dummy machine gun and still leave my teammates in the dust like Bugs Bunny OD-ing on Adderall!" Having just openly challenged the squad, it was only a matter of time before they all fell victim to my incitement.
"How brave of you, Shirogane! Grab your gear and starting running, NOW!" I went blasting off following Marimo-chan's order.
"Instructor! I request to exercise with the same equipment as Cadet Shirogane!" The first and foremost to raise her hand, Meiya was set ablaze by her passion as she stared at me unwilling to accept defeat.
"Me too, Instructor!" Looked like Class rep was biting next.
"Em… then I will do the same. Instructor!" Tama the idiot.
"…Me too." And finally, Ayamine. Peer pressure was such a beautiful thing.
—
"You are good, Shirogane." The Instructor Jinguuji who greeted me by the finish line marked in the ground was one in a surprisingly merry mood.
"What do you mean, Instructor?" I decided to just let the conversation flow on normally, as plain as day what the reason that led to my praise was.
"You motivated your squad mates into running with full gear with you, and still beat them by this much while carrying the dummy. It was well done, kid, very well done."
Marimo "Mad Dog" Jinguuji stood unobtrusively by the side of the tracks, the warm glow of the afternoon sun poured its modest rays onto her uniform, marginally illuminating the benign smile of a mother that usually never sees the light of day. She was watching the rest of my Squad slowly grovel their way over the finish line, exhausted as anticipated.
Marimo-chan had a kind look, but it suited her all the same.
"You flatter me Instructor Marimo…chan." Perhaps tempted to throw another fit of rage at my aggravating use of the term, Marimo only released a tired sigh as my half-serious grin told her of my somewhat playful intention.
"You really are special, huh, Cadet Shirogane."
"Sure is, people have a tendency to say that about me."
In the end, I outran everybody by three and a half laps. No clue how it happened; they should had tried harder, put their backs into it or something. Once my teammates finally outlasted the backbreaking torture, each person was panting on the ground like they just crossed the Sahara Desert without any water. So overall, a high percentage of improvement compared to last time.
—
"Shirogane-san, you really are amazing!" Tamase Miki happily approached me first after the group stopped dying from dehydration.
"Of course, Tama! You haven't even seen my final form!" I spoke confidently, knowing my own power too well.
"…Tama? Are you referring to me, Shirogane-san?" Miki questioned the nickname that I gave her centuries ago.
"I got to be fair, you know? Everyone gets to be over familiar with me."
"I sound kind of like a cat, huuh, that's funny." She then relaxingly and without putting any effort into rejecting it, accepted her new name.
Jinguuji Marimo
Now that the training for her squad was over for the day, Marimo had to go back and start filling the reports. Normally this process was boring to the extremes. Unlike all the other times, however. The enlistment of Shirogane Takeru had some major effects on the write-up Marimo had to hand in.
"Shirogane Takeru…" She repeated the name of the cadet to no one in particular. Remembering back to his lack of discipline when he called her 'Marimo-chan', twice. But for some reason, The Sergeant felt rather familiar being addressed as such by a man she should had never met before.
Shirogane Takeru
Shirogane's room
Kasumi, Kasumi. Summoning space mind reader Kasumi.
"Yashiro Kasumi, reporting for duty." The qt bunny girl answered to my thought call almost on the dot.
whacha doing right now?
"I'm having a conversation with Sumika-san."
About what?
"Whether the cars in the movie Cars buy life insurance or car insurance."
Yo… deep stuff right there.
"It's certainly an extremely puzzling puzzlement indeed, I can structure reasonable arguments for both sides of the debate."
Yeah, yeah… that's great… so you wanna come over and exchange a quantity of consensual intercourse in the missionary position for the pure purpose of reproduction?
"…Another time, Takeru-san." Interesting long pause between the question and the reply.
Training field
'The twenty-third of October 2001 has always been the same day.' Most people would agree to that sentence, as odd-sounding as it was. I too couldn't find ways to disprove that statement despite being a bit more of a special case, the patterns still existed in our chaotic world, and that was one of its scarred beauty.
A lone slender figure strode with haste under the watchful gaze of that night's bright moon, her thin ponytail was doing its usual dangling behind her back as she continued her rhythmed breathing while running across the track. Such magnificence was her aspect, a beautiful warrior bound by the fate of her blood.
"Hm? Oh, Shirogane." Meiya greeted me, our positions were similar to yesterday.
"Mitsurugi… Meiya."
"Yes, Shirogane Takeru?"
"How ye' holding up, B?" A dead look was what Meiya sent back my way.
"I stand unsure whether your inquiry deserves a meaningful reply." She couldn't be anymore correct with that assumption.
"Well, try?"
"I… er… refuse. No." There was an attempt.
"Okay… okay… then… what're you doing out here? Some kinda punishment?" Awkwardly, I propelled our discussion onto its traditional path. Some days even I couldn't think of a smooth transition.
"Of course not. I am training on my own. This is part of my daily routine."
"Hm, Is that so."
"I wish to become an Eishi as soon as possible." Meiya announced her goal out of the blue.
"Why's that?"
"My reason is quite ordinary… I want to protect something."
"I see. Do you mind telling me what that is?"
"…This planet… the people of this country… and Japan as a nation."
"That's a tall order, girl. Also, that's three things."
"A nit-picker, would that be you, Shirogane?" I didn't particularly want to confirm or deny her narrative.
"…You really are beautiful, Meiya…"
I couldn't help but admire her will. So strong, so righteous. One lone soldier fighting for the sake of her country, for the people of her country. The simplicity of her dream so perfectly contradicted by her ineffectual position, without outside interference, that fetal wish was destined to be crushed under the weight of reality.
"T-T-Takeru! What do you mean beautiful?" Meiya shaded her face with a light red. Even going out of her way to call me by my preferred name, she really disliked losing.
"Your ideals, Meiya. Of course yourself is also a very pretty person, remember I said that." Her face blushed deeper in crimson, my smooth talking was apparently making a retaliation.
"Shirogane, do y—"
"Just Takeru is fine, I'm not going to stop calling you Meiya, so." No one could get away from my over familiarity.
"Takeru, then. Do you have something you want to protect?"
"Yeah, Yeah I do." That should be the correct answer.
"May I ask what?" In some ways, I had been avoiding thinking about this question, it was uncomfortably annoying to put that idea into words.
"…Can we- can I like- just sit down for a minute?"
"If you insist." I slowly crossed my legs and found a seat right below, not resenting the quality of the dirt below me. Meiya showed respect by doing the same, she kneeled down and settled her hands onto her legs.
"What I want to protect… it's a boring answer though. It's the world, and humanity. But… how should I say this… it's hard… like harder than beating Contra without dying, I'm not proud to admit to losing…"
"Takeru… it is inevitable for you to be met with opposition if you were to reach for a purpose as grand as this. In fact, it will not be uncommon for many to claim this as the most difficult road."
"I know, I know. But it's like- have you ever been playing some video game and you're finally reaching a big boss and it's all dramatic and stuff the first time. But then he wrecks your under-leveled dumbass, again and again, throwing you to the last checkpoint every damn time… it's kinda like that."
The ponderous aura of confusion surrounding Meiya was evidence of the effectiveness of my inexplicable explanation. She shut her eyes in order to devote more concentration to solving the riddle I presented, however it all resulted in a fruitless effort at understanding a concept too far-fetched.
"I… see."
"You've no clue what I'm talking about."
"None at all, no."
"What I'm saying is… I've been in this fight for a long time, it's too long of a time, really. I'm a bit lost on what to do differently, know what I mean? Here's another example; you ever lost a small thing, like a penny or something? You know you lost it and so you start looking for it, right?"
"By all means." I was spewing some really good imagery literature that day, just knowledge dropping like mad.
"You first look in places where it's most likely to be, but boom! Not there. Then you move on to places where you think it might be, boom! Still got nothing. At this point you're just fumbling through stuff at random, sweeping under beds, pushing over shelves, but still, can't find that bitch. What do you do?"
"I would employ the help of others to assist me in my search, unquestionably. When I reach the limitation of one man's physical self, the only option left is to expand the numbers of persons. Of course, that is after locking down the area for my search and removing all obstructions in sight."
"That's… weeeell then…" When it became my turn to act speechless, I wasn't reluctant to be taken back by Meiya's switch and solid reply.
"What do you suppose would happen in my scenario?"
"You'd probably find enough pennies to buy an ice-cream… alright." And there went my cash money example, 2001-2001.
"I assume this is the limitation of your simplified case study. However, it is to my belief you are experiencing a conflict others cannot imagine easily."
This chick's good… really outplayed here. But now I think about it, I never told Meiya anything about my time-travelling superpowers… maybe… As I ponder a direction to take in my mind, Meiya was boringly doodling circles into the dirt.
"Hey, girl, you wanna see something cool?"
"Depends, Takeru. Am I allowed to see it?"
"Ye, boy. Have a look at this." I clumsily pulled out the envelope stating my rank privilege and shoved in Meiya's delicate face.
"Takeru, you are a…" After Meiya carefully inspected the few pages, she appeared rightfully fluttered for a response.
"Now, whatever you're thinking of doing, don't do it. There's a reason I'm not flying around earning medals, and I want to keep it that way."
"Right- understood, sir." I'd be surprised if I wasn't the only one with goosebumps running up my back.
"…Aaagra… don't, hella weird."
"Agreed. So, I must ask, Takeru, why are you amidst the cadets if your true nature is that of a capable pilot?"
"I'm a… on extended vacation, or something similar. I'm at the part where after blowing a day, you still can't beat that boss and really just wanna go do some side-quests. And I've been kinda doing that for some time now, I actually just tackled the boss again although; guess what, didn't win."
"…To my comprehension, you seem to be stuck in quite a dead-lock, if I may be so blunt." Meiya stuck a single finger inches away from my face, her dauntless carriage seemed to be mocking my difficult clarification.
"Yeah… sure, you basically got it. And I just don't want to put any effort into anything, it's too much a pain in the ass to try because I'll probably get fuc— it'll just be unpleasant."
"So… you're here to run away?"
Those words, the way she said it, her expression when she said it; all of it was so unbelievably infuriating. I couldn't right out discredit her allegation for it held more truth than lies, but nevertheless was irritating to have the facts forced onto me.
"Damn girl, why you gotta put it like that? I said I'm taking a break, right? When the time comes, you'll see how much I can wrecks them bad kids."
"Takeru! That is unrelated to our current situation! If you are truly a fully enlisted soldier, why are you wasting your potential amongst us cadets? I wish to became an Eishi as soon as possible to gain that power which you already own and are currently discarding!"
"Hey, hey watch your mouth, Mitsurugi! Standard working hours a week is forty and I haven't been on paid leave since the first White House got burned down!" Meiya withdrew a couple centimetres away as I unintentionally raised my voice, her next expression was a mix of worry and qualm.
"I didn't mean… please accept my apologies, 1st Lieutenant Shirogane! I was not my intention to anger you in any form!"
"Ahhh… no worries, Meiya. And drop the rank, please. It bothers me a bit, you see. I just errr… don't feel motivated, that's right. I've seen many of my friends die… lots of times. Of course, I've gotten over it eventually, but it's like… I'm all out of tricks left in the bag." Starting to sound like a broken tape-recorder, I was.
"However, Takeru. There is still hope left, is there not? For you stand before me as a living man, capable of changing our fluctuating destiny even if your will has been demoralized by defeat. You do not have the right to declare our future; no man has. That is why we fight, it is only through our struggle can a path to victory be sought."
"That I get, for sure. But it's just…"
"If it is motivation you seek, I can certainly provide. After all, I too am a fellow soldier walking alongside you through this journey. The past I am powerless to change, however you cannot surrender the future you have yet to strive for. It is for that the future is unknown it still can contain hope."
"A man is not defeated until he sees that as the only truth, I will not allow our fight to be over before it begin."
The single thread of unbreakable conviction emerging from the heart of this loyal girl was looming triumphantly over my pool of sadness, it was this time I realized another strategy still existed in this prison of time.
My way of thinking had been rigid and blinded me to methods someone with a fresh viewpoint could easily notice. I fought together with my squad of comrades for years on end, but perhaps I never once relied on them for anything more than combat.
It was scary; the thought of losing anyone I cared for and losing my progression during any loops. So I did all I could to keep them away from danger, where I couldn't I taught them how to best protect themselves. To be strong Eishis not for victory, but survival.
Maybe that wasn't the right decision, maybe I should aim for a different bearing.
"Meiya… I think you're actually onto something… I feel- err… so enlightened."
"It brings me pleasure for my amateur guidance to be of assistance in your crisis… however, if this draws the curtains on your predicament, I have a matter for you to answer."
All of a sudden, Meiya's iron grip took a hold of my hands as she closed the distance between my gaping mouth and her ripe lips almost instantaneously. Her navy-blue eyes were gleaming a ray of radiant resolve into my dark pupils. The entire interaction took me completely by surprise, her behaviour was too assertive in comparison to her past self.
"Meiya, what are you…"
"T-Takeru… I-I must ask you…" As impressive as it was, her forceful personality only lasted for a mere second. Meiya's hold on my fingers weakened when she was tempted to turn away in a shyly red blush, however the girl powered on and again connected our sight.
In the warm heat emanated from her silky palms I found a nostalgic sense of longing for her affection. Meiya was the girl who had always stood valiantly in the front by my side, protecting me from deadly wrath of my foes and supporting me from destructive tendencies of my own. Over the years, we had shared limitless moments of intimacy as we tread through a sea of blood lost by those we couldn't save; sometimes being the closest friends and others being partners in life.
So even if the Meiya before me was devoid of any of those qualities which blossomed along the time I spent with her, I couldn't push away the person who accompanied me across so many worlds.
"Shirogane Takeru… have we met?"
"…Clarify?"
"I… do not believe our first introduction to each other was today, you are not a man I can recognize as a stranger to my eyes. Tell me, do I know you?"
It was a question impossible for me to tell the truth, however lying to her demanded more skewered courage of me than I could afford. Evading her devoted curiosity using fictitious means was my best under those circumstances, Meiya alone was someone I promised not to deceive.
"…It wasn't here… or now, but I do know you, Meiya. Not in the way you'd think though, so there really isn't any need to worry about it."
"I see, I see. In that case, I shall cease to pursue any further, you lived the life of a troubled man, Shirogane Takeru. The secrecy of your truthful rank shall lay forever a mystery in my heart, fear not for the prodding ears of others, for they will not receive any hint from my mouth."
"That's… reassuring, Meiya. Thank you for that. I'm not ashamed for my reason on being with you guys, but now I'm gonna try to make up for not being in the front by being somewhere else… wait no."
Where I should be is where my brain's at.
"~Huhuhu… no worries, your cryptic message is well received. I look forward to working with you, fellow Cadet Shirogane Takeru." Her smile, the genuine smile I was so fond of finally reunited with her countenance.
"That sounds a bit insulting…"
"Then perhaps it is vital to race your way up the ranks." Leaving me off with a single pat on my shoulder, Meiya stylishly disappeared in the direction of the barracks.
Mitsurugi Meiya
Mitsurugi's room
The running shower splashing lukewarm water onto her bear back shielded her mind from indistinctive noises and focused her notion on a logical path, Meiya wondered to herself where or when did Shirogane Takeru first intruded her fleeting memories and why those hazy moments were the happiest she ever had.
—
Updated on 28/05/2017
Author's note
It's weird rewriting an entire chapter and then uploading it to what everyone should think is a dead story. Thought it was a new chapter? get bamboozled.
I not really dead or anything, it's actually very unlikely for the author of any story you follow to die, I think it's statically proven how unlikely it is for someone that's not your immediate relative to die if you're below a certain age. Anyway, gaming a lot, studying a lot, writing not very a lot.
This chapter's pretty good if I so say myself, so you know that's the iron truth of the universe, although let me know if the universe made a mistake somewhere though. Review and stuff if you want to, not like I deserve anything for reupload.
BETA done by chad001