Chapter 14. Different morning, but in Same Location
[10 a.m., May 21, 2078. Arlington, Washington, D.C., USA]
Sergeant Kim took a close look at the headstones. On the Arlington National Cemetery's Vietnam War veteran area, where the green grass was spread, there was a young man in a clean and ironed uniform, and also a young woman in a baseball jumper and a fox-eared circlet on her head.
"Ah, here it is."
Kim said, with looking at the series of gravestones. Kiriko looked at the gravestones.
[E-6 Staff Sergeant, Berk Williams. October 8, 1986, Vietnam.]
[E-6 Staff Sergeant, Turner Westwood. October 8, 1986, Vietnam.]
[E-5 Sergeant, Vincent Fitzgerald. October 8, 1986, Vietnam.]
[E-5 Sergeant, Brian Nichols. October 8, 1986, Vietnam.]
[E-4 Corporal, Jordan Mayers. October 8, 1986, Vietnam]
[E-4 Corporal, Albert Wayne. October 8, 1986, Vietnam.]
[E-4 Corporal, Joseph Vance. October 8, 1986, Vietnam]
"Everyone was gathered here, together."
Kim spoke quietly. Kiriko found the words "Sparrow 2" engraved on each gravestone. Somehow, they were familiar names. A name that Kim always used to say.
"So, were they your platoon members?"
"That's right. Precious my boys, so dearly than anyone else, and be a pity for myself all the time, for failed to protect each of them."
Kim, rather than being complicated, looked faintly at the gravestones with an expression that he can't help it anymore now.
"Atten-tion!"
Kim put out a solo command, and slowly raised his hand with a solemn face, to salute. Kiriko did not know how to salute. But she thinks that if she wasn't as polite as him, it would be a disgrace to the fallen, so she put her hand on the chest. Kim lowered his hand slowly, and Kiriko lowered her hand in the same way. He exhaled once quietly.
"…. By the way, thank you, Kiriko."
"For what?"
"For everything, especially coming here with me."
Arlington National Cemetery could be visited by anyone, but Overwatch's agents were secretly avoiding it. Simply not just Soldier:76, the Jack Morrison's fake tomb was here, but there were more complicated stories.
Kiriko knelt on the ground and began to pray with her hands together in a hushed voice. Although Kim did not know how to speak Japanese, it appeared that her prayer must be for the dead, to rest peacefully.
Suddenly, he remembered the thing that Hana had told him a few days ago. If you have a chance, try to catch it. He looked at the back of Kiriko's head. Still, this small but tough girl was making his heart beat every time he saw her.
"Oh, and… Kiriko?"
"Yeah?"
"….."
"What?"
Although Kim opened his mouth, but it was terrifying to speak the next thing. He has been through a lot of more harsh things and should have made a lot of more serious decisions, but it's never been as difficult and frightened in the same time to decide as it is now. Kiriko was looking back to him now, but what he wanted to say didn't come out of his mind that easily.
"Why, what is it?"
"…. Thank you. That's all."
"All of a sudden?"
"No, just. I had a lot of other friends, but if you didn't hold me right next as well, it would have been very hard for me to get here. Maybe, I couldn't get here at all."
Kiriko smirked as if she was becoming dull.
"What was that, Kim. I've been looking at you for nearly two months now, but you're still a mystery itself."
Kim also laughed.
"Come on, let's move on. Other fellas are waiting for us over there, aren't they?"
Kim raised Kiriko up. He didn't do as what Song Hana advised him, but he thinks that it would not be that bad to give a little more leeway between her and himself, for the further relationship.
Kim and Kiriko walked up to the airship, which was waiting them on the hill. The warm sunshine at noon was creating a perfect environment, not both hot or cold. A breeze blew in, and the flags at the National Cemetery flew lightly.