I felt like something bad was going to happen. I had gotten a knack for predicting future events, especially since I entered the War Knight Division. Thankfully, Emi seemed to go back to normal, but Natsumi and Reiko were behaving strangely. But most importantly, what had happened to Bleed and his comrades during the explosion? These were things that only time could tell, and I felt like I was running out of time to do something about it.
I had recently finished my training and dinner with the other cadets, and it was just about bedtime. As the other cadets went to sleep, I decided to stand in the hallway outside the male and female barracks and look out the windows. It was dark and quiet, just like the night when Emi and I were faced with Bleed and the Antonov supporters trying to enter the base. Suddenly, I could hear some footsteps in the hallway, which seemed to go in my direction. I quickly reacted, as I feared that some officer would scold me for being outside my room. Hiding a table and some chairs, I was clear from sight. There, I saw some familiar faces.
"Reiko, you better have made sure that all the cadets went to sleep. And Daigo, you better of not made any noise coming here. Got it? I have important information related to one of our members"
A girl, which I believed to be Kaide Miura, was talking to Reiko and Daigo outside the barracks. All were wearing their pajamas. I was shocked, as I didn't know why they were outside together like this, and the three of them barely interacted. Kaide despised Daigo, who tried to mess with me. But the most shocking part was that Miura was giving out orders, to someone like Reiko. Reiko is supposed to be an officer who has more experience than us, so why was she receiving orders from Kaide, who was just a cadet? All the questions filled my head and I couldn't think of any type of reasoning.
"Let's go somewhere more private, shall we?"
Kaide said as both Reiko and Daigo stood silently.
The three of them walked off and proceeded to leave the barracks. I hid silently and made sure not to make any noise. I thought about Kaide mentioning something about one of their "members". My only thought was that she was referring to other cadets, but she wouldn't have said it that way. Maybe, just maybe, were they possibly linked to Bleed and the Antonov supporters? Suddenly, I heard a footstep behind me. It was sharp, and they had seemed to stop behind me. Thinking that they may be related to Kaide, I turned around quickly and positioned my body to face whoever it was, and land a punch on them. But it wasn't who I was expecting.
"Are you really going to punch your childhood friend?"
Natsumi revealed herself as I stopped myself from attacking her.
"Oh, Natsumi. Long time no see. What are you doing here at this time?"
I responded while nervously laughing.
"The real question is, what are YOU doing here? We are not supposed to be outside at this time."
Natsumi responded with a straight face.
It had been a while since I had talked to my childhood friend, Natsumi. She was also a War-Knight, but my training with Emi stopped me from talking to her. However, she seemed more serious than her usual self.
"I heard something weird outside, so I went to investigate…"
I said as I tried making up an excuse.
"To be honest with you… I don't care about that. I just needed to know… why?"
Natsumi said.
"Why? What you mean?"
I responded.
"You and Emi. Both of you are super close, right? And you forgot about me, your childhood friend… the one who cared about you… so why? Why her over me?"
Natsumi said as she clenched her fist and looked at the ground. Tears flowed through her eyes.
My intentions were originally to investigate whatever was going on between Kaide, Reiko, and Daigo, but I had been distracted by Natsumi, who had appeared before me. She talked about how I had forgotten about her since joining the War-Knights… the truth is that I should've at least kept tabs on her and kept her company from time to time. But with the Tokyo bombings and the Bleed incident, plus my training with Emi, I didn't have much time. But still…
"I'm sorry, I've been caught up in the training and other things… I'm sorry, Natsumi…"
As I finished my words, I decided to do something to calm her down. I walked towards the crying Natsumi, and I hugged her. I wrapped myself around her and tried to make her feel safe and comforted. She was probably going through a lot, especially without me, so I knew I was in the wrong. Natsumi accepted me and cried in my arms.
As we finished our hug, Natsumi finally said something.
"I understand that you and Emi are training mates, but please promise me that you don't feel anything from her…"
Natsumi said as she looked up at me.
"She's just my partner in training and War-Knight-related stuff. I promise that no one is more special in my life than you, Natsumi…"
After my words, Natsumi embraced me. I knew that from now on, I could never forget about my old friends, especially ones as dear to me as Natsumi.
After everything calmed down, I pulled myself gently away from Natsumi and grabbed her shoulders.
"A lot is happening right now, Natsumi. Not just training, but truly serious situations are going to happen here. I ask that you work together with me and Emi, just this once. I need you more than ever…"
I said as Natsumi looked at me with a smile.
"I'm always there for you, Hiro. So, what's going on…?"
From there, I proceeded to explain everything to Natsumi about what happened with Bleed, the Antonov supporters, and Kaide…