Chapter 16:
Quiet Nights
In previous chapter: After many preparations and debates, the CCSE is now about to begin. The cadets are not entirely working in unison yet, but certainly the shared setbacks will be common cause for them to marshal under. Mitsurugi remains intent on learning more about Takeru, although whether he feels in the mood to answer is another matter entirely. In these quiet nights to follow, perhaps something can be born of the truce?
And yet, stormclouds are approaching…
[Recommended Music: Melee Map, Monkey Island 4.]
November 17th. 1st Day of the CCSE.
On an island's shore. Around 6 AM.
Sunlight falls harshly on the cadets, yet takes pity compared to the booming voice of their Instructor retelling the rules and conditions of the mission of their CCSE. With a salty cloak carried by the wind besides them, all of them spray tobacco on their gear while putting it on, sharing slow glances. Takeru waves away Mikoto's concerns, tearing the flimsy fabric and twisting a sailor knot in its place. Swearing to do the same to one certain slithering animal somewhere in the island while he further tightens the knot, eyes blazing a bit.
Shortly after, the whistle is blown and the ticking tocks begin their marshal march back to zero.
Even less time takes Takeru to propose a way forward, recognizing the map as the usual one and recalling their prior debate on moving as elements of two. Ayamine nods silently back at him as he points to Miki for the target on lowest ground, and volunteers to take charge of the farthest target. Mitsurugi agrees immediately, brighter than the sun, her palming of his shoulder burning more.
Deciding on a rendezvous point after looking at the foliage and scenery, with one last nod back Sakaki lifts her chin into the galloping salt gale, hair fluttering as she speaks.
"Squad, we shall wait until the third day on that hill before departing for the evac point. Do not waste time, and do not take any terrain for granted. I want you all atop there and ready to clear this test then!"
"Roger!"
One last round of nods and waves is shared, Takeru giving a thumbs up to the wobbly slime of Tamase's remnants, that regain some color as Yoroi joins in the compliments. Facing the impregnable entanglement in front of them, the cadets then release their last clear breaths before penetrating the verdant sanctuary of the island.
Some hours later…
Raking, over and over. The mosquito cloud that follows, the poking ropes of daylight, the slide-inducing muddy soil. Tickling, over and over. The myriad of threads resting under leaves, the covered jaws of pitfalls, the many drops of nets and pebbles that may actually hurt less than the drops of raw heat coming from above.
Raising an already sweaty hand to signal security, Shirogane then wipes a sea off his forehead. "Damn, this is harder than I thought. First loop me wouldn't have stood a chance here… Did Sensei double the difficulty for this as a test? I did say we needed to get better, but this bureaucratic block is not the most appropriate place to do that."
"Shirogane, that is a pitfall there, is it not?" Mitsurugi asks, throwing a small pebble that is swallowed by the gaping. "Sigh… Our prior test was not riddled with such an amount of traps…"
"Yeah, I can believe that, alright. And to make matters worse-"
Slap!
"-these fucking mosquitoes just won't piss off!"
Slap!
"I do not believe wasting our energy on them is wise. The sun is close to setting, after all," she says, taking a moment to shake her tank top, letting it breathe.
Slap!
"…Shirogane, you shan't be able to eradicate all the mosquitoes from the island."
"I'm willing to try!" I'm taking as much blood off here as they're taking off me! Damn bugs… "Meiya, I'll take the lead and dispatch as many traps as I can. We're not making progress if we keep stopping so much, and I'm about to lose it with these bugs."
Slap!
"Ha! Two for one! Gotcha!"
More graceful swipes as if she were brandishing a paper fan keep the stings at bay, although her own hand smacks her forehead in front of the shiny glare and chuckles. "Shirogane, please… Also, it is most dangerous for you to handle all the traps by your lonesome."
"I can spearhead faster by myself as you cover the flanks, though."
Slap!
"What if you fall in a pitfall? We would lose valuable time, and you could be injured."
"I'm not so careless, and anyways, you have my back. If anything happens you can help me out," he says, groaning as he misses a grab at the dancing buzz above and around. She is the same, for different motives, while slowly scratching her arms. "The heat is just going to wears us down if we do this slowly, we gotta push forward without stopping every half a minute."
"Even so, there's the chance that either of us gets stuck in a trap, or hurt gravely. We should be careful, mind our pace, and advance together. Fellows should join forces in front of such setbacks, wouldn't you agree?"
"And again with that silky but upset smile… This is like when we argued about The Dinner when we got together, I think? No use in arguing when she gets like this, then. Also can't risk her getting injured, and I know I can clear the traps."
Slap!
"And I'mma clear you all off too, fucking bugs!" he seethes, throwing hands with the air for a small moment. "Meiya, can't you use a stick or something to slice all of them in half?"
"It is most unproper to employ our teachings for such base trivialities. Furthermore, we wield the blade not to harm but to protect. Steel your resolve, my fellow, lest these diversions shall stray you from the righteous path. If we combine our- Shirogane, what are you doing with that branch?" she asks, seeing him wave the small piece of wood in front of him for a few sharp swings.
"Sigh… Seems like I still can't do that, huh," he says, bitter pout growing.
"Please, stop jesting," Mitsurugi scolds, lightly hitting his arm. "In no way could anyone truly slice nature in twain so easily. …W-What is with that stare?"
"…Nothing. Anyways, let's go," he says, shrugging and stomping his way through a foliage more dense than himself. "Oh, there's a net there. Well hidden, too."
"Shirogane, I told you we should work together," she says, giving chase, crouching to check the nearby greenery.
He doesn't as much as register her.
"If your displays of superiority in the trainings truly were not veiled insults, why refuse a helping hand?"
"Woah, even a slingshot here? I think Mikoto saved me from one of these before. Getting hit by a rock like this would hurt a lot."
"Shirogane, I am speaking to you!" she asks, louder than her stomping after his shape. "Stop ignoring me or-"
A clicking noise courses through the underside of leaves when suffering a sharp step. Leaves which are rustled, torn away from their sunbath.
The tear in the air is replaced by short bursts, piercing bark. Bits of green fly off even faster than the birds, faster than the rippling noises of the hidden guns.
Faster, however, is Takeru's tackle into a roll. Both of them grow intimate with the mud, if only to avoid the forceful date with stalking bullets.
Mosquito rave sounds rather pleasing to their ears once the gun parade ceases.
"…Goddammit, they actually put machineguns with rubber bullets?!" Takeru complains, bending a knee and standing. "If that had connected, we'd be left unable to continue marching. Or in a world of hurt. Just thinking on tight-roping over the river in the rain with such an injury is enough to make me shiver," he sighs, rubbing his chest, slapping at the bugs before edging away slowly. "You okay, Meiya?" Takeru asks, offering a hand.
"…Y-Yes, I am unharmed. Sorry, if I hadn't been so careless-"
"It's okay. So, are you really fine? No injuries anywhere?" he asks, fingertips rubbing her palm as she stands.
Eyes dodge, hands do not. "Yes, I said I am fine. Thank you, I almost did not react to it. I, uh…"
"Don't mention it, for real," he sighs, briefly holding her hand tighter, then ending on a rub of the outer side. "Just be careful from now on, alright?" he winks, giving a small, strong pat to her shoulder. Glancing about as he wipes his forehead, he then nods back. "Let's keep going, and be extra careful with- Meiya?" he asks upon a silent and slack stare, not truly focused on his face.
"…Huh? Ah, yes, of course…" she says, blinking fast as her sight swerves up and down him, looking away while coughing a bit. "Lead the way."
However, an already careful pace turns almost paranoid. Every leaf, every shadow is suspected, almost heard cackling. What deep pitfalls and nets are found inspire no confidence and raise already blunted spears. By the time orange spills all over the skyline, both of them had been waving the white flag for quite some steps. Steps that were so soft they barely left signs in the wildlife, if not for the dripping sweat sawing off the frontiers between skin and clothing.
Sings, however, do light up in Takeru's head when observing the foliage as he halts to catch a breath.
"Shirogane, shouldn't we set up camp? Pheeew… We won't be able to see much of anything once the sun sets."
"Wait, I recognize these trees… That small clearing there, ain't that where me and Mikoto stopped all the previous times?"
"Shirogane? Are- Are you ignoring me again? Shirogane! Siiigh…"
"Yeah, I can see a mountain… Oh! There it is! Holy shit, we made it in one night?" he says, smiling and pumping a fist. And shivering as something wet touches his shoulder, he recoils off it sharp. "Uwah! Oh… Don't scare me like that, Meiya."
"I've been talking to you all this time. You mean to say you were not even hearing my voice?" she asks, slow as the fold of her arms, as the departure of threads of light from the treetops.
"Sorry, my B. I tend to space out a lot, you know?"
"Sigh… It is alright, then. Now, let us set up camp before we lose all daylight."
"No, we ain't doing that."
One eyebrow twitches, the base of her neck too as her breaths oscillate. "…Why?"
"The target is right there, we should get a bit closer today. That way we can destroy it at dawn when we wake up," he says, pointing a thumb backwards.
"What? Do not lie to me! There's no way-"
"Look over there," Takeru steps to a side, rolling his eyes.
Mitsurugi's eyes almost roll too, but out of her sockets. "W-What?! How did we make it to the target in a single day?!"
"Because we're awesome!"
"…What does that even mean?"
"Come on, now," he protests, bitter. "You did count the amount of traps we dispatched, right? We walked without stopping all day long, save to eat and drink. It wouldn't surprise me if Tama's team is going to destroy their target tonight." If there is one good thing from this loop is the endurance you gals now have thanks to trying to one-up me in everything. A small W, but I'll take it.
Initial shock dwindles, she steps back and inwards. "It has to be a diversion, how can you affirm with certainty that is our target?"
"Look at the map, here. Think on how much terrain we walked since the beach. C'mon, it's still far but we can close some distance before we lose all light."
"…You're serious? We made it… in one day?" she says, edges of lips slowly curling up as what faint specks of light paled in front of gentle purple embers in the eyes.
Takeru winks back, smirking. "See? So, come on, one last little push before nightfall."
"Very well," she says, following after.
Slower steps, dragging on the mud at times to prevent any ill surprises, find them a clearing a bit deeper into the terrain. A nice vantage point from where starlight slowly peaks from beyond the treetops, enough free ground to extend legs without hitting bark nor fear any falling monstrosities at night. Takeru volunteers for clearing traps nearby, so Mitsurugi tends to the fireplace first. And her own everything blazes away as he reminds her not to cook. By the time he returns, even the moonlight wished to join in their dinner.
"Shirogane, you stay on that side," Mitsurugi says, pointing to the opposite side of the bonfire, her crouching position tightening further.
"Why? Shouldn't we try to be as close to the fire as possible, to avoid detection and junk?"
"Yes, but… You're male," she says, giving him a sharp and sideways look while fingers close in onto her arms.
It stings more than all the nibbles the mosquitoes had forwarded all day long. "I might be male but I'm not a degenerate."
"So, you're not… going to try anything weird when the sun goes down, right?"
"…No, I'm not. I won't touch you, I promise," he affirms as he sits and begins to take out a blanket, then she relaxes and looks away. "Way to bring down my mood, honey. Thanks for letting me know you see me as a creep. Sigh… I guess she stills think I'm some sort of asshole."
Shortly after, he takes out his rations. It is, as it had been the usual for some time, half of the standard quantity and of lower quality, going by the E marked on the pack. Synth foods gets rated based on how much percentage it has of organic material and how 'good' said material is. It goes from A as the highest to E as the lowest.
"I suppose this is only proteins and vitamins jammed together into some sort of… I was gonna say dough, but I have no idea how this is even made. Tastes like diluted toothpaste, ugh…" he forces more down his throat. His stomach would wish to sucker-punch itself at the moment. "Instant ramen would beat the crap out of this shit. To think Mom said microwave food tasted bad, if she took a bite of this she would either faint or start making a ruckus about how could anyone consider this edible."
Through the rustling wind of humidity where even the leaves cry, through a low lullaby of wildlife, through those distant glimmers up above Takeru can barely make out a faint string of vanilla in the air.
"…I wonder how are things over there. Did that world got rewound too? If not then… there is little I can do by myself, huh. I mean, why did I even came back to this world? The fission was meant to scatter me, and the link of the conductor should've been neutered by Sumika before we left for Kashgar… Hmm…"
"…Are you not eating anymore?"
"Maybe because of my oath as I exploded? This time the transfer did not start with me as a conductor, but as a stronger nucleus. I willed myself out, I didn't get 'transferred' away by another force. Even my room was the one from 2003 before I left it. Does this have anything to do with how the nucleus works then? Sensei said that it was drawn to the leaks when there was a strong enough connection. But, from all the possible parallel worlds that I could have ended on, why send me back to the beginning?"
"Is he lost in thought again? Shirogane… Shirogane, please… Must I strike at him or something?"
"-instead of appearing at the same point in time that I was in my world, I ended back on the 22nd. Because the 'awakening' of the conductor had more pull on the nucleus? That still doesn't answer why I came here in the first place. Ugh, I'm going nowhere. I'll need to talk it out with Sensei when I get the chance now that she got the papers of the first theory. Sigh… That reminds me, though. Am I even sending any data to the squad? I mean, I should be linked to the other two worlds, right? Now that I'm a conductor as well as a strengthened nucleus they should be receiving some memories, even if only subconsciously. Considering how mad they've been, it ain't look like that is working at all… Hm?" he finally notices the stare locked on him, as a finger slowly taps at an arm. Stopping the idle nibbling on the synth cereal, he asks. "Is something wrong?"
"…I was wondering how long it'd take for you to return to reality, is all. Would it kill you to not be somewhere other than here, Shirogane?" she asks, glaring.
"I really rather be anywhere but here, to be honest…" he sighs, throwing himself gently against a tree. "Sorry, I was just thinking."
"About what? We're in the middle of the CCSE, to allow personal matters to lessen your focus is not wise," she remarks with a nod, before squeezing her cheeks in, what jelly was left in the pack.
"…No need to glare at me like that. I was just remembering my Mom," he whispers, hunching down and retracting his knees, hugging them as he bites at something that would parade as grovel. "Ugh, this tastes like overboiled veggies that got then dried at the sun for a day. Not even I made such awful food when I started. If you don't count the burnt pizzas, the overdone rice porridge, and that one time when I put both white and black pepper to the sauce. It was so delish, though…" he lightly balloons his cheeks, softly patting his stomach.
"…Your mother? Is she still in America?" a retracting of both posture and tone, as repulsed as when she moves a hand back and almost squashes a poor slug, that is then throw away gently back to the grass.
"What do I even tell her? Anything I say will make her think badly of me, anyways. They seem determined to push me into the 'American' box regardless of what I try to do. Shouldn't I just shut up? …But if I do that then, we'll never talk again. We'll never… never again…"
Mitsurugi remains watching, scanning him while gradually eating at her rations. Enduring the cold of the wind and the hands tickling his spine, Takeru simply looks up, hitting the bark with the back of his head a few times.
"…I don't know."
"What? How can you not?"
"I don't know where she is. I think she might be dead, even."
"How could it be that you know not of where your parents are, much less what was of them?" tilting her head back, her eyes narrow a bit. "It is also not the first time you guess something crucial to your life to be one way or the other. How curious."
"Please stop… Don't look at me like that. Just shut up, dammit. Don't… use her voice like that. Just leave me alone, please…"
"Did you not try to look for them? To search for their profiles, even?" she insists, edging closer to the fire.
"There's no links to my parents in my own profile. There is literally nothing left of me in the damn data banks. I had to ask Sensei to look into it, and give her the names even. Nothing's turned up yet. There, happy now? Can I at least have a peaceful dinner or do 'Americans' not even deserve that?"
"Huh?! I, uh… F-Forgive me for prying. I did it again," she gives a small bow, not making eye contact as she moves back softly atop her leaf bed. "I meant no disrespect, I assure you."
"…Don't worry 'bout it."
Under the moonlight and the wind, for a moment he again resumes eating. Or what would more closely resemble the action when enduring the rock hard peanut butter available.
"So… I assume your mother was not with you abroad. Was she supposed to be in the Empire?" she asks as soft as the rustling wind over the leaves while she throws a small stick at the fire.
She ain't letting this go, huh… Whatever. "I thought so. I don't really know much about my life here, after all."
"Wait, what do you mean?"
"Didn't you read my reports already? There's no data left."
"Yes, I am aware. But you yourself are not- Are you telling me you do not know of your past?"
I mean, lying about it is pointless. If I'm ever asked I'll have to be honest, and frankly, it is almost as if I had amnesia this time, with how different everything seems to be for whatever reason. "Pretty much. I woke up one day in a hospital without remembering where I was, how I got there, or anything at all. I do remember our culture and traditions, how to write, parts of our history," he says, looking up, retelling the fake report cooked as a shield. "But I don't really remember anything about my life here, not what was of my family, friends, where I lived or studied. Since no one could find anyone related to me and I didn't have anywhere else to go, I was offered to become a UN Cadet to have a place to live in, and that's how I joined the army. This was two years ago."
"You… You're basically all alone."
Wow, thanks for the gut punches, honey. Keep 'em coming, who needs some peace of mind anyways? "…Yeah, you could say that. I at least had my squad with me before but," Takeru bites into the cereal with too much force, causing part of it to fly away into the grass, as distant as his home seems to be at the moment, "…well, not anymore."
"…Just like me."
"What was that?" he asks, not having heard clearly half of it.
Mitsurugi clears her throat, shifting her posture, and again softly bouncing a too friendly slug to the grass. "Nothing. So, does that mean that you do not remember all of our customs?" she asks, slower, sheathing the edge.
Noticing it, Takeru sighs and shrugs, extending a leg until it comfortably taps an exposed root. "Somewhat. I do still remember how to write in kanjis and some festivals and stuff, but there might be lots of things that are common sense that I forgot about." This also explains my usual weird words and lack of knowledge of this world's specific historic events. "That's all there is to it, for real." So please just let it go. It's cool, you don't like me here. I get it and that's fine. Just… don't remind me of it every second.
"…I see." Closing her eyes, folding her arms, she seems placated with the answers.
Rubbing his arms, he again back-headbutts the tree to better look at the stars. "Sigh… Thank God. At least we aren't arguing about anything anymo-"
"Then, allow me to ask you."
"Goddammit, Meiya… Now what?!"
"Do you know what possessing a Minaru Kamui entails?"
"Again with this… Oh my God… Meiya, I already told you and Tsukuyomi-san. I only wanna keep it as a memento!"
"So you do not know, then?" she asks, still and calm as the night that falls around them.
"Sigh… You said something about being inducted or the like. Is this about that?"
"It is related," she nods, hands softly picking at the grass. "To have possession of such a blade inherently grants you status within the Shogunate. It would not be a stretch to say it is almost as important as a title of nobility."
"Huh? You mean, I'd be almost like a noble?"
"Not almost, you'd be one should you be a legitimate owner," she nods, throwing puffs of grass to the flames, staring at the rising embers dispersing about. "You could even request an audience with Her Highness, perhaps command some of her vassals even."
Dispersing about like ash to the wind was his expression as well, recalling one certain ring he was bestowed with. "Holy shit… I didn't knew itthat important. No wonder you got so defensive when you found it." And not even Sensei knew this, she said some swords are like relics or something.
Mitsurugi hugs her knees, eyes still up above. "You were chosen by someone to take their place in service of a Regent House, essentially." To say nothing on how you're aware of the handguard tradition, and your own words on this woman who bestowed the blade to you. "It is an honor few ever receive. However, even if I know you indeed possess the aptitude befitting such a gift-"
"You can't trust an 'American' with such an important item, am I right?" Takeru winces as he shrugs, hitting the bark with the back of his head again, the roots with the boots.
Mitsurugi mimics the expression, only in crestfallen gesture and gaze. "Exactly. Forgive me for bringing this up now of all times, but I still hold doubts towards you. I suppose 1st Lt Tsukuyomi was pleased with your answers, considering the attitude of many towards the Shogunate, and that's why she left the sword in your hands. Shirogane, does your prior answer change?" she asks, staring right at him.
"…Not really, no."
"Why?" doubt overflows narrow blazes for gazes, grass before tickled is now choked.
"I am in the UN, and have my own goals to accomplish."
"Certainly, to be bequeathed with the Shogun's blessing would be a grander honor, no?"
"As if that would happen…" They know I am not the 'real' Takeru, there's no blessing coming my way.
"Tsukuyomi did not take the blade from you. Even referred to us as fellows. Would you not wish to reconnect with your roots?"
"…No, it's fine." I already tried that back home. I already was a coward, and it cost them their peace. Maybe if I stay here for too long, this world too will suffer the same consequences…
"Shirogane, if you possess motives to refuse such an offer, state them clearly."
"Sigh… Meiya, can you let this rest? I don't want to talk about it."
"Does this mean you… favor another Regent, perchance?"
"I don't prefer any Regent over the others. I honestly don't know enough to make a call on that…"
"Oh… Ahem. So then, why? Even if only to mend your profiles and citizenship. Certainly, formally becoming a fellow could aid you much?" she asks, saving her breath as she edges closer.
Closer to those eyes that still remain on the stars, so far away. "…And you think taking advantage of this would be proper?"
"Ah, no, but-"
"It'll be what it'll be. Joining the IRG does nothing for what I'm looking for, I think. If you guys treat me like shit when I try to be nice, imagine what nobles will do to me, haha," he chuckles, hitting his knees slowly.
Slower is the collapse of embers, only a mound of silence is cradled in between legs, wilting.
"…So, want me to take the first watch?"
"Huh? Oh, if you wouldn't mind?" she asks, he shrugs. "I shall accept your generosity, then," she whispers, crawling back to her leaf-bed.
"Don't forget to take your boots off, your feet are gonna kill you tomorrow otherwise."
"However, we are supposed to be in enemy territory-"
"And should use every chance we get to rest properly," he says, untying his boots.
"I see… I suppose you're right," she whispers, slowly following the motions before stretching her legs out on the leaf-bed.
And yet in the quiet night with only faint buzzing as their company, even after he puts out the fire, Mitsurugi's eyes continue to rustle open every so and so.
He had not moved an inch in his stargazing, the falling moonlight illuminating his relaxed and unassuming features while a slow massage he gave to each of his feet.
A slow cracking in her chest and neck spawns when staring overlong at the sinkhole for a face, similar to the expression he wore when singing in the ruins.
"…Say Shirogane."
"Hm? You still awake?"
"Yes… Say, I know it must be arduous, the situation you're in. Would you truly not reconsider being a fellow, even if you do not wish to directly join the Imperial Guard?"
"Do you really think I'd be even given a passing glance?"
"…I would."
"Huh?"
"I would vouch for you," she affirms, nodding up from her comfy position, feet tickling each other. "You possess the skill and the poise, and the fortitude not to prey on the value of the sword. If your words have been true and you hoist no ill will towards the Empire, and truly wish only to aid us improve, would you truly not welcome the opportunity?"
Those eyes ain't fair, honey. "Siiigh… No, for real."
"Why? If you need an ear, I am here," she says, resting her arms under her chin. Staring.
Scratching the back of his head for a moment, he cannot return the eyes. And yet, it tickles inside. A bit cold, a bit salty. But it tickles. "…There was a time, back… where I was before. I had accepted that my fight was already over…"
"You… were going to give up being in the army?!" Someone with such exquisite skill, surrendering the fight?
"Eh, something like that. I had accepted that, regardless of what had been, I had done the best until that point. For the first time in a long while, I…" a hand raises, clawing at the moonlight, pulling at its strings, "I thought I could finally lift my head and meet their eyes in my dreams. Tell them everything was gonna be alright."
"…Them? But then- Oh. Is that when… Gulp… you were inflicted those scars?"
"Yeah… Back then, I thought to use my experiences in my career, to help those in the same boat as me. Maybe make a book out of it or something. But in the end, I was just running away. Like a coward," the hand falls, the gaze, the heartbeats, all of it too. Empty the palms, their veins, soundless. "I feel that if I do the same again, then the same mistakes will be repeated. Resting on my laurels simply because people lend me their shoulder ain't the right call. I've my own fights to give, can't push that burden onto anyone else. And that's why I don't think it's wise for me to be a fellow, whatever that means. Assuming the guards won't just come and demand my head on a pike, that is."
"Come on, do not say so… Someone cherished you enough to give you the sword. Can you truly not tell me anything about that woman?" she asks, tightening fingertips raking the grass, more so upon his eventual gazes and sighs.
"…You remind me of her in a lot of things."
"What? I do?"
"Yeah, she was like the splitting image of you, to be honest," he admits, smiling as softly as he hadn't ever in this world, the moonlight reflecting the cheer back at Mitsurugi.
It spawns tickling all over her too, almost propelling her off the ground. "What?! Just like me? Y-You do not mean to say that, well, I mean, uh-"
"Come on, chill out… It's not that big a deal, is it?"
"Y-Yes, it is! Do you mean this person looked like me, in appearance? I c-cannot believe such a thing…"
"…What, you think your non-existent twin sister wouldn't fall in love with me? I'm quite the charmer, I'll have you know."
"S-Shirogane! Do not jest on this matter!"
"Nah, trust me, Meiya. She was definitely head over heels for me, one-hundred percent. Who wouldn't fall for a random guy with nothing to his name save for mad gaming skills?"
"…Are you actually joking? It feels like you are. If so, stop it. This is a serious matter!" And what is 'mad gaming skills' even supposed to mean?
"Sigh… Come on, your fault for falling for it, dude, haha. The way you act and talk reminds me of her, that's all." I know you're not her. There is a sweetness to her eyes and words that… you just don't have in this world.
"How many times must I tell you I am not a 'dude'?" she repines, hitting the grass upon his chuckles. "You are horrible, you're laughing at my expense… However, was she truly so similar to me?" she asks, slow and low, such is the belated nod he gives, the gradual descent of her head onto the grass until she nuzzles against it. "I-I see… Someone of the sort saw you fitting for the blade…"
"…And that's why I don't wanna part ways with it," he shrugs, again resting fully against the tree, exhaling long. "I rather honor my promise by my own efforts. And," Meiya never intended me to join the Guard. All the contrary, she was trying to tell… Wait, does taking her hand equals joining the 'IRG' of my world? Huh… Never thought of the Mitsurugi Group in that way, but yeah, they would be the Shogunate of my world, kinda. Yeah, no, thank God I'm just a nobody in this world. Imagine if I was actually something like Yuuhi's fiance or her first love like I was for Meiya back home.
"…And?" Mitsurugi presses, lips shrugged.
"Nothing, don't mind me," he shakes his head, pulling the blanket over his chest. "Let's rest, we'll need the energy tomorrow," he ends, turning away.
Mitsurugi groans from her position, but eventually rolls to a side and allows the calm chorus of the wildlife to lull her to sleep.
The Next Day
BOOOOOOOOM!
"Look at that explosion! That went better than I expected!" Takeru cheers, raising a fist along the thickets of smoke off their target.
Mitsurugi nods his way after she finishes her ascent on the rocks. "With such a diversion any hostiles in the area would be surely distraught with fear. Another fine work of yours, Shirogane."
"Come on, it's nothing. At least there were no traps there, and we found some fuel too."
"…Do you really plan on keeping that? I believe more water would be a better use of the bottle."
"Eh, lay it on me if it comes up."And anyways, we need this to use the boat. Just like last time when… when we… Wait, did we use the boat? I mean, yeah, but… Huh…
"Is something the matter, Shirogane?" she asks, panting a bit.
"Oh, no, nothing…Let's keep going, the sun's killing me," he says, shielding his eyes as he walks through the narrow pathway.
"Say less, please."
Taking some moments to admire the crystalline sea surrounding on side of the horizon and sprawling arms to welcome the return of the breeze, slowly they climb rocks, boulders and elevations. Skipping over trip wires, prodding the minimal crack, and finding more sinkholes than they could count. It's almost as if their Instructor had chosen the odd angles of erosion, punishment as the high ground with stable footing and under heavy sunshine. Every hair's width of shade more precious than time itself.
In one such moments of rest, Shirogane checks his overalls. No falling kit belt or anything sends a smile, that widens when locating a pair of eyes, a slithering challenge, one of his first nemesis.
"…Shirogane, what are you doing?" Mitsurugi asks upon the drowned chuckles, flinching a bit in front of the wide smirk and eyes.
"Oh, nothing much. I simply found a poor little snake," he says, wring its neck a few times. "A nice addition to the night's pot."
More suffocated than the viper is she, taking a step back willingly into the sunshine. "D-Do you even know how horrid their smell is?"
"I brought the curry powder with me, so it's alright."
"Right, you did say so…Gulp."
"Oh, come on. It won't be that bad, promise."
She simply shakes her head, trying to restore symmetry to dampening hair. "In any case, do not get sidetracked. Theheatalone isenoughof a- A-Aaaaahhh!" freely yelling and swaying in the air, Mitsurugi fumbles for a bit. A feet caught by a rope, hanging down from the ceiling, the daylight showering right at her. "C-Curses, I did not even notice there was a trap…
"I didn't even see the wire," Takeru notes, pacing closer, looking at the ground. "Want some help?"
"It is fine."
Mitsurugi takes in breath, the heat shower seeming to grant extra impulse to the motions. Trying to bend upwards to cut the wire, the exertion only served to mark her abdomen and turn the swaying into a slow carousel. Grabbing her legs with one hand to not lose balance, a sliver of sweat can she taste as it goes down her eyes, sliding off her hair.
"…Such a simple trap. Ugh, get cut already!"
"Meiya, I am right here to lend a hand, you know?"
"If I can't release myself from this, what kind of soldier would I be?" she says as her sweaty grip slips, leaving her panting under the sun.
He moves to block the light, shrugging. "The same as everybody else? Come on, let me cut the thing."
"It is nothing… I shan't let this keep us here overlong."
"Something something, fellows help each other?"
"D-Do not employ my words against me! And I am… Why are you looking away?" she asks as she realizes he had been blocking the sun by placing himself face-first into the daylight.
"It's called having tact."
"I am not so daft as to have you standing in the sun over this, however…"
"Meiya, you're upside down right now."
"…I am aware, keenly so."
"I don't think you are. Look at your belly."
"My… Gasp."
Exposed, the curves of muscles, the clenching belly button. The tanktop almost rolled close to her chin. Glistening even when blocked from the light, the heaving of her breaths seemed to grind the clothing a bit further down. Almost revealing her bosom.
"Could you get yourself out of the rope, miss? The sunlight is rather harsh," he deadpans, smiling back at her with both eyes closed.
"A-Ah, yes, of course!"
Harsher than the dives of mosquitoes for their limbs the lunge for the rope, not due to that effort Mitsurugi felt the dry knock of heartbeats at the base of her neck. It took close to a minute, of grunts and tense breaths before she could free herself. With a low but hard thud she falls free, quickly fixing her clothes before even tending to the aching in her back and ankle.
"…Wanna rest for a while?" Takeru asks, offering a hand as he finally turns around, sighing.
"I am okay," Mitsurugi says, eyes on the ground as she tries and stand by herself. "There's no reason for us to stop for a small- Augh!" as she gets up she winces again, licking her lips dryly.
"Let me see your back, we should treat it just in case," he insists, circling to her side.
"I said I am fine!" she protests, turning away, palming her stomach. "I'm not so weak to need rest after such a petty struggle. I can deal with this- Mmh- Ah! Shirogane, stop- Ah, hmm!" she gives little yelps at the small kneading on her shoulders, the long sigh tickling her nape and knees both.
"See? Your shoulders are all tensed up now. You did bring some bandages, right? It won't take long to treat you and we can't risk this pain getting in your way when you're climbing."
"I know… I'll give you some bandages, but do not do that- Ah! S-Stop it!"
"Does it hurt here?"
"Well, no, mmh… Pheeew… H-However-"
"Fellows help each other, right Meiya? Then let me help you, you cannot climb the mountain with an injured back."
"F-Fine… Here," she says, messing with her support belt, handing a small roll of bandages. Slower and smaller the movements when she grips the edge of her tanktop, gulping hard as his fingers depart the shoulders, suddenly feeling as if direct contact with the sunshine again. ""Y-You better not try anything odd, alright?" she says, gradually raising the back of her clothes.
"Ouch, there's some blood coming out. Do you have something to disinfect the wound?"
"I think I do. Yoroi recommended me a spray. Oh, here it is," she hands it over, hands shaking a bit when his fingertips brush hers.
Takeru recognizes the brand as one Mikoto always used when they went to parkour over the ruins, smiling then. "Alright, this might sting a bit. So try to hold it in."
"Hmph, who do you think you're talking with? I'm not- Ahh! It burns…"
"Told you. Stay quiet, though. I'll clean the wound a bit with part of the bandage. It's not bad enough to have to cover it fully, thankfully."
"I see…" she says, lips and fingers twitching ever so slightly upon every careful brush, every gentle push of his over her back. "Despite his hands being so large and rough, his movements are so delicate…"
"…And, there. Feeling better?" he asks, walking in front of her and handing back the spray and bandage roll.
Taking them softly but not looking up, Mitsurugi slowly returns them to her belt kit. "…Yes, thank you."
"What's up? Want to take five to rest?"
"N-No, it is nothing," she says, loud, before coughing. "Let us resume our march, shall we?"
"Sure?"Why is she… Oh, she's embarrassed? How adorable, honey.
"W-Why are you smiling in that manner?" she demands, lips tight and small as she folds her arms.
"Nothing, nothing… Let's go, c'mon."
And so, their march returns to their usual tempo under the sunlit bath and jagged pathways available. Only now with a higher dose of gazes thrown back, of lingering fingers in the rough palm when it is offered to finish climbing. Wondering how is it that there is yet another facet to her squadmate as Takeru returns to a fragment of the initial cheer he held when returning to the squad.
So doused Mitsurugi was she did not raise a single protest when he chased after some toads, or when he jokingly asked if she needed another massage, not when they set up camp with twilight as their backdrop above the trees, not even when he volunteered to cook. Simply waiting, watching from her leaf-bed on her side of the campfire while he's clearing the nearby traps.
"Hey, Meiya!"
"Are you done with- W-What is that!?" she gapes, almost rolling onto her own back when whirring her head to see him.
Shirogane smiles, petting the barrel and giving it little rubs. "I found a machinegun with rubber bullets, disabled the threads that were keeping it active as a trap," he takes it off, laying it by her feet. "Thought it might be useful for something, you never know."
"I… hadn't even considered using the available traps to our favor. Such resourcefulness…"
"Don't praise me that much, it was just a spur of the moment thing," he shrugs, going to his side and picking up his cooking set, dropping some mushrooms from his pockets in the pot.
"…And you also are trained in survival in the wild?" Mitsurugi asks, hands slowly checking the new weapon while observing him.
Takeru shrugs again, cutting the spoils with his hands before getting to the toads. "I asked Mikoto for some pointers, is all. Just wait a bit, dinner'll be ready soon."
"Do not mind me, I still have my ratio-"
"Fellows help each other, yes or no?"
"…But you do not wish to take on the sword."
"Is that enough for us to not work together?" he asks, low, halting the splicing of meat to stare at her.
Mitsurugi rests the gun down, hugging her knees again. "…Apologies. I shall accept your generosity, then."
Takeru merely nods back with half a smile. She wonders what could compel such quick, instantaneous forgiveness, a rain of colors and smile more varied than the plants they could appreciate during their trek over the island. Watching him cook to the tune of some odd song, feeling her mouth water at the scent of the curry spice, and accepting through a few forceful pushes the very first serving, to her dismay it is actually edible, and rather decent. With an extra slice of cheer to his hums and sways, Takeru goes to eat his own share, more than content with receiving a nod in appreciation. She, however, remains watching his every move despite the pulls and tossing of her innards to compel her hands to eat faster.
"…Shirogane?" Mitsurugi asks, slowly poking at the snake-toad-shroom curry fest.
"Hmm? Whash up?"
"Sigh… Do not speak with your mouth full," she scolds, his further gorging makes her chuckle somehow, "You simply look so silly, it is almost endearing…" before she hastily clears her throat, restores the firm stare when trying to do the same to her fringe. "Ahem… May I ask where did you learn to perform such massages?"
"Want another one before bedtime, hmm?" he asks, smiling as he slowly, so slowly licks his lips.
"N-No! I am only… curious," she says, her knees closing in on her person as she busies herself with dinner. "D-Do not laugh! I told you to stop laughing!" she protests, grabbing at some grass and sticks, throwing them his way and only serving to ignite the little bonfire.
"Sorry, it's just nice to be able to relax like this." I missed fooling around with you guys… "Anyways, I was given a small course on how to relieve the strain on my comrades' muscles, in case of injury. Maybe Mikoto can give you some pointers if you wanna polish the skill?"
"…I see."
"I didn't hurt you, right?"
"No, it… was pleasant, I'll admit. But do not even think on doing that again. I won't forgive you if you lay a hand on me without my permission."
"So… if I ask you before it's alright?" he asks, the small smile mirroring the moon's shine as he throws his head back at the bark to laugh.
Mitsurugi is roaring in thunders inside, softly hitting the ground over and over. "Do not laugh at me. And even if you ask I'll say no!"
"Such a shame… Your shoulders were really tense and stiff, you know?"
"…Thanks for worrying, but I'll deal with it until we pass the test."
"But fellows help each other and stuff, right?"
"Well, yes… But only when it is necessary," she concludes, gulping all what was left of her food. "Anyways, that's all I wanted to say. Thank you for the food. Allow me to take the first shift tonight."
"Don't mind if I accept then," he rests his bowl, stretching his arms up, shoulders cracking. "Yaaawn… Damn, didn't realize how busted I was," Takeru yawns wildly again, eyes watering as he again stretches and allows a shiver to course through his arms and back. Through the small, exposed and tensing part of his lower abdomen too. "Hm? What's up?" he asks, noticing an unblinking stare on him.
"…Nothing," Mitsurugi says, brushing her hair while shifting her sitting position. "Simply seeing how exhausted we both are."
"Yeah, climbing under the sun does that to you. Anyways, good night for now, Meiya," he says as he stifles a yawn, curling up into a ball and waving at her.
Mitsurugi finds herself waving back although he's not facing her. "Yes, sleep well…"
Shortly after, his snoring overpowers the natural chorus. After sustained moments, after the shift in the moon's shine over the trees to be noticeable, Mitsurugi edges closer to the sleeping Takeru.
Watching the lax expression, the messy hair, sprawled over the ground without seeming to hold no cares at all without reacting to the buzz or the wind. Not even when her fingers softly poke and prod at his cheeks, or his nose, or his lips, or run over his hands.
"…What am I doing? I suppose, it is not odd for him to know how to properly handle injured people. Why am I…" she sighs, noticing he slightly rolls over to face her, sniffing the air and relaxing further. "You're such a mystery, to merely jest in front of my shame earlier today… If only you truly would wish to be a fellow," she says, wrapping her arms around her chest, groaning a bit at the lazy sleeper and the snores.
The moon dances above, for long enough that it departs from their resting spot. Loose like the breeze he remains, so much that Mitsurugi simply remains watching the gentle ups and downs of his chest, the slow parting of his thin lips grow more delayed with each passing repetition. Soon finding herself lowering to the ground besides him, faces almost side by side, Mitsurugi winces a bit when the sniffing gets worse and he even shows hints of a smile, edging closer. And yet as the treetops are rustled gently along a few cracks in the campfire when it dies out, gradually everything begins to dim, to narrow.
Her breaths, the texture of the ground below, the rustling sounds above and around, and that calm face right in front of hers. So close, that their noses were almost cuddling. So close, her expression slowly begins to change and mirrors the one in front.
Soon enough, their snoring is completely in sync, her hands ruffling the base of his neck just as his nose does into her fluffy hair.
Close to the Noon of the next day
"and we also found the anti-materiel rifle there!" Tamase says, giving a small bounce while patting the parts of the weapon in question, more bright than the sun. "Oh, thank you, Shirogane-san," she says, accepting a small bowl of food, sitting against the tree besides the rifle bits.
"…For being mushrooms and toads, this isn't half bad," Ayamine says, giving a small thumbs up as she eats. "What did you guys find?"
"A tarp, some fuel, and a broken Humvee," he says, shrugging, pacing around the small fire to hand Chizuru her own bowl. "I got the fuel here, in case it's necessary," Takeru then points to a small bottle in his belt kit before sitting and serving himself some food.
"I see…" she taps her glasses, gulping hard, and feeling each and every inch of wind pierce through and refresh her from her tongue and in. "My, this is… Actually food?"
"Thanks for the vote of trust, Squad Leader…"
"I did not meant it as a slight," she protests, extending her legs into the sun, looking up at its slivers through the leaves. "It tastes better than the rations, that's for sure."
"Yeah, and you had already found lots of mushrooms, too," Mikoto says, one said mushroom poking out of her mouth before she slurps it in sharply.
"We would have arrived much faster if you hadn't stopped every time you saw one of those," Sakaki complains, shaking her head at the cracked laugh Yoroi gives. "Anyways, all we found in our target was that rappelling rope. Is there anything anyone wants to report? Shirogane, Mitsurugi, you arrive a full day ahead of the rest. Did anything happen while you waited?"
"Nothing happened," Mitsurugi cuts in, making noise as she drinks the small amount of curry broth left in her bowl.
"Is that so… Oh, right. You said you climbed a mountain to arrive here, correct? Did you see anything interesting while up there?"
"Oh, yeah! When we were there-"
"Nothing happened," Mitsurugi insists, lightly elbowing Shirogane, staring arrows at him. "We could see the sea, it was a marvelous sight indeed. But besides that, nothing of note occurred. Let us not waste time and depart, post-haste."
"…Meiya-san, did something happen between you two?" Mikoto asks, flinching away from those eyes, sharing tense looks with Tamase.
"No, whatever makes you think that?"
"…Special-kun, any thoughts?"
"Not really? So, you guys ready to go? Did you sleep well enough for the travel?" he asks, looking at the map, at the marking of their objective with another eye on the sky.
"Yes, there were no issues on that regard," Sakaki says, although she slightly scratches at an arm. "What of you?"
"We rested well enough," Mitsurugi says, standing quickly and stashing her bowl in her pack. "If we're done here, let us prepare to march," she says, walking up to Tamase and taking on one piece of the rifle.
"…Special-kun, what did you do?"
"Cook a nice meal? I mean, literally nothing happened…" She's been avoiding me since she woke me up for my night shift, for some reason.
Shortly after, the thickets of greenery overtake their immediate worries and discussions. Sharing the weight of the rifle every half an hour, their march remains stable through the combined efforts of Takeru and Mikoto to bust all the traps lurking about. Eventually, the rows of trees seem to meet an end, or rather, a stop. A clearing sky shows a deep ravine separating both sides of the island, a small and gentle river running below. With no bridge in sight anywhere nearby nor any signs besides those of undisturbed nature.
"It's… pretty deep. Ayamine, take the rope, tie it to that tree and cross to the other side. We'll cross that way," Sakaki gives the order while resting the piece of the rifle she was carrying, wiping her brows.
"Roger," and Ayamine nonchalantly walks up to Takeru, taking the rope from him and in no wasted movements tying it to her, the tree, before just going up to the edge and begin her descent.
"Damn, her dexterity is legit."
"…What?" Mitsurugi asks.
"It's the short version of legitimate."
"…It wouldn't be a normal day without learning a new eccentric word from you," Sakaki shrugs, sighing through the impossible and humid heatwave. "Alright, squad! We shall cross in this order. Tamase and Yoroi first, each with a piece of the rifle. Then Mitsurugi, Shirogane, and finally myself."
"…Are you sure? I've the best endurance, I can go last," he offers, walking to a tree and giving a passing glance to the sky.
"I am the Leader, it won't do to depart before any of you," she insists, nodding. "And anyways- Huh?"
A small poke, right atop her head. Looking up, motes begin to cloud her vision, her glasses.
"…Oh shit, it's gonna rain," Takeru curses under his breath, tightening a fist and hitting a tree hard enough to forcefully eject leaves.
"What awful timing, as well," Mitsurugi laments, moving besides him along the rest, shielding themselves.
Soon enough, the gentle rain grows and roars. As Ayamine makes it to the other side and ties the rope, the drizzle is complete and absolute. Treetops almost collide with each other, a faint thread of electricity flashes over the clouds even.
"It'll be harder to cross with such strong rain. There's no telling whether this will be just a squall or a storm," Mitsurugi sighs, resting onto the bark.
"Let us not waste time, then. Tamase, Yoroi," Sakaki says, both of them nod back and quickly grab the pieces of the rifle. "…Now it is a matter of how long this rain will last," she clicks her tongue, taking off her glasses to wipe them clean.
"I would say a mere squall, but some of those clouds look truly dark," Mitsurugi admits, low.
"…It might last for a few hours, probably," Takeru answers, arms lightly folded as he watches the clouds, almost relaxed.
Sakaki and Mitsurugi share a look at the slow certainty of the words, before she steps closer to him. "Then, if it doesn't stop raining, should we leave the rope hanging? I think we could destroy the knot with the rifle."
"We would lose the only powerful weapon we have, however," Mitsurugi counters. "The machinegun only has rubber bullets, and it is not powerful enough to shoot the rope under this rain. In that same sense, it might come short if we ever need the anti-materiel rifle."
"How about we discuss this after crossing?" Takeru throws out with a shrug, sighing.
"Yes, that's true." Sakaki then looks at the other side of the cliff, seeing Tamase was already halfway through.
Yoroi slowly moves up to the rope, sighing heavier than the rifle's weight before beginning her passing. Each droplet stings her more than every single mosquito bite combined, freezing her more and more as the jaws of the river below almost raise and tickle at her backside.
"…It really is not stopping," Sakaki says, observing the unchanging gray above.
"Let us hope it doesn't last all day," Mitsurugi prays, also lost admiring the storm around. Until she sees Shirogane taking peeks behind the tree, holding the machinegun tight. "Is something the matter?"
"…No, I thought I heard something just now. I must have mistaken the sound of the rain with something else," he whispers, posture tense against the bark
"Don't worry. There are no big animals in the island." Sakaki says, nodding back. "Yoroi's about to finish. Mitsurugi, get ready."
"Understood," she says, cracking her neck and stepping away, closer to the rippling puddles forming in the ground. Her own reflection distorted there, it causes her to sigh.
Faster than the other two she crosses, the wind starting to sway the rope to and fro, a small swing over the devil's jaw.
"…She's barely even slowing down," Sakaki says, readjusting her gear on her. "Shirogane, it's your turn next."
"The rain ain't getting any softer. You go first."
"I said, I am the Squad Leader. It is my obligation to-"
"If it's your obligation to guide us, then get to the other side faster. You know how tough I am, I can handle the heavy rain."
"…And I can't? What are you implying?"
"What if you lose these?" he says, pointing at her glasses."
"I… Very well, I suppose," she shakes her head, arms folding as she kicks at the tree. "Thanks for your consideration," she whispers, nodding back at him before moving towards the rope as Mitsurugi reaches the other side.
Closing her eyes when giving a wide glance to the horizon, it surprised Chizuru that all the trees still remained in place. The current of the river was already perilous, and it was only raising higher and higher. Heavy steps under the heavy rain, she double checks her belt kit and the rope, seeing if it was ready then feeling a cold shiver run through her when facing forward again.
Colder are the faces of Tamase and Ayamine on the other side, who seem to wave and be yelling something or the other her way. For a second, Chizuru wonders if they're advising her to wait out the storm as she steps towards the rope. For a second, through the veil of the heavy rain, she cannot make out their features clearly. The doubt doesn't last long, however, as a strong impact sends her flying into the mud.
[Recommended Music: Dark Reality, King's Field IV.]
"Cough! What the- Shirogane? S-Shirogane?!" she pales, a void rising in her stomach at the large, amorphous bruise left on one of his shoulders.
"How the hell?!" a raspy voice fumes, splashing about behind the thickets. "Man, and I had a clear shot, too."
"Stop complaining, and let's get this over and done with," another voice, deeper and slower, scolds.
From behind the foliage, two soldiers decked out in camo slowly step closer, aiming machineguns at the cadets. The four on the other side already took shelter behind trees, Sakaki simply steps back slowly, lips forming wordless prayers as her mind blanks and she raises her arms shakily.
That is why the soldiers approach without much guard in her steps. That is why colder than the rain is their heart when Takeru rolls to a side and opens fire.
"Eat shit, you assholes!"
"Wh- Why does he have a gun?!"
"Tch…"
Hiding behind trees, a small shared round of firing ensues as Takeru slowly limps on the mud behind cover.
"You better lay down that weapon, kid. We've authorization to use force," one warns.
"Fuck off! Who the hell you think you are?!"
"We're part of the CCSE, playing the part of the aggressors you're running away from. Resistance is not advised," the words fly out along more bullets, hitting only puddles, or the barks across the ravine.
"And just so we're clear, kids! We're willing to play our part to the letter, even if the sakura are tainted red!"
"Hey, shut up… Don't speak more than necessary, this is still a test," a gruff cough complains, and a small argument ensues.
It is enough to give the cadets a small respite, gather their bearings and try and look to the other side of the ravine, from where equally appalled gazes sought theirs. Seeing Shirogane had began to shake, teeth gritting, Sakaki's hand hesitates slightly but gives a pat to his shoulder, a withering whisper plucking her last petals off.
"Sorry. It looks like we won't get to pass this test…" she hunches over, gulping lumps of ice down her spine when the two aggressors stop their quarrel. Further cold slithers in reverse through her veins when a hand tightly holds onto hers.
"…Chizuru, get to crossing," Takeru says, gripping tight, eyes blazing.
"W-What?!"
"We can't trust in these guys. You need to get out of here."
"Shirogane, are you crazy?!" she yells, closing her eyes tight when more gunshots strike at the trees nearby. "W-We can't fight against-"
"I don't care!"
"However-"
"Forget the test! These guys are rotten!"
"Oi, what was that?!"
More rubber tickles trees, in non-ending waves to mimic the drizzle.
"I think I'm gonna forget our suggestions… This kid pisses me off!"
"Think twice," Takeru rolls on the mud, taking aim. Grazing an arm. "Tch…" and having to retreat before he's scattered like the puddle that takes the hit on his stead.
"I won't repeat this again, cadets. Lay down your weapon and accept your loss. We guarantee your safety if- Tch!"
"Yeah, right! Go to hell, you son of an eldritch bitch! Chizuru, go! I swear, this time they ain't laying a finger on you!"
"What does- But you- But we have-"
"I said," he lifts her shoulder, shielding her body with his own as they run into the rain, "GO!"
Propelled by the shout echoing in her head, the rope is choked and she slowly, slowly begins to cross.
"Told you we should have just shot 'em all down!"
Even as each finger is piked by the gavel of droplets. As the gale runs circles over her and sways her left, to right, to the left again, far to the right.
"Kid, drop your weapon if you- Tch! Oh, now you're done it…"
Even as her sight fully blurs, moving on automatic. Moving through a shrieking current below, one more furious behind.
"Sakaki, give me your hand!" Mitsurugi yells, supporting herself on the very edge if only to hasten her arrival for a second.
Along a thunder above, Sakaki makes it to the other side. Her heart's about to leap off her mouth like a fish over the water. When looking back, it sinks down to the deepest abyss. All the others fell the same too, when they see Shirogane taking some shots, falling to his knees, only to then receive a knee to the face. Sent sliding over the mud, almost over the edge of the ravine, he labors for air only to be kicked away, into stillness.
Soon after, shooting resumes in the girls' direction as some shout or the other tries and makes it to them.
"W-What do we do?!" Tamase asks, both hands clamping on her ears, eyes shaking more than her teeth.
"Even if we run they might cross," Ayamine says, taking a glance back, sharply returning to safety as one soldier takes aim. "They're… beating the shit out of Special-kun…"
"I-Is this really… part of the test?" Mikoto asks, nibbling at her lips until blood pours out when looking at what the taller, seemingly older of the aggressors was using Takeru as a punching bag.
And yet, a guard is raised, a counter delivered to the jaw. Unsteady steps are sent into a tree, out of air. Rubber hits the chest dead on, sending Takeru to meet the mud in hoarse coughs along the other aggressor.
"The rain is not letting up…" Mitsurugi curses under her breath, clawing at the bark. "Sakaki, what should we do?"
One second, the rifle's parts enter her sight.
Two, Shirogane is spun straight into a tree in the corner of her sight.
Three, four, a scanning of the rests reveals a crestfallen gesture shared, a lack of vigor. Almost, a thankful bow to the sky, to the rain for shielding their ears.
Fifth, as she looks up, as a trail of cold water swims through her head and down, it reminds her of the slums. Of her father, his dismissal, the imposition. Of the last time such frozen fear seized her heart, constricting her limbs into stillness.
Blasts of water, the downpour of rain. Masquerading as rampant fire, covering the real wound. Washed away just like the downstream current raging so close by, it can be hidden and mended. But displaced it cannot truly heal, refreshed and clean the surface may remain. What then does hide at the bottom, stagnating, ignored?
Sakaki shakily stands, almost colliding into a tree. Irregular breaths into coughing, then she looks back, unblinking. "Ayamine, cut the rope."
"W-What?"
"Cut the rope. The chasers need it to reach us, at least until the rain stops."
"Chizuru-san, wait a second! A-Are we going to abandon Takeru?!" Mikoto asks, yet doesn't move from her position.
"…Logically speaking, we have three options. We cut the rope, we shoot down the rope, we run away as is. Wasting the anti-materiel rifle," and forcing Tamase's hand here, "is unwise. Running away exposes us to the chasers, of which there may be more roaming the other half of the island. T-Therefore… Therefore we only have one real option!" she rasps, balled fists backhanding the rain.
"Sakaki, we could… Shirogane might- I…" Mitsurugi looks back, at the struggle still ongoing.
One of the chasers was circling behind Takeru, then pushes him forward, aided by the unsteady footing. The other raises an arm, hitting his neck in an almost perfect lariat. Kicks and curses rain on the collapsed Takeru harder than the drizzle, and yet his hands were still reacting to cover his head, to try and resist.
Resistance, that is what the girls' breaths had forgotten.
"…I will only ask one more time," Ayamine says, as she stands, eyes closed. "You want us to retreat and leave him behind?"
"Blame me all you want, we need to pass the test. The mission, the CCSE takes priority. He- He knew what he was doing!" If I don't keep moving forward, then what is his struggle for?! Just like then, to simply stand around in the slums, doing nothing… Never, never again! Never! "There's no such thing as a perfect mission… We must carry on, whatever it takes. S-Shirogane said it himself, didn't he? H-He would rather be left behind than see us f-fail… I am-"
"Sakaki, it is alright," Mitsurugi pats her shoulder, nodding down as she bites her lips. "None of us is faulting you. It is what it is, such is the nature of the military… Ayamine, fulfill your orders."
"…Roger."
It only takes a few seconds, to untie the knot. To see the rope loosen and fall to the stream. To see the aggressors freeze, try and shoot at them as they run farther into the foliage, then discharging their frustration with further kicks at the slumped body.
And storming through the greenery in mimic of the weather, the girls run away from the ravine without as much as looking back a single time.
Despite knowing there was no way for the chasers to reach them now.
Despite having their blood in overdrive at the lurking danger.
Despite the hurt of their backs, the extra exertion of the rushing pace slicing through puddles and mini lakes.
Despite distant echoes of gunshots fading, the river's roar as well.
Despite that they did not stop running.
Not for a single second.