At the Lower Districts Headquarters...
"Here, take this to the Main HQ. Make sure that garrison soldier's profile will be approved by the chief."
Major Helrich handed the envelope over to his assistant secretary. He opened the envelope just to see an unfamiliar soldier profile in the paper.
"Huh? Minoru, Minoru Kaiser? Who could this garrison be?"
"He...he is the sole survivor of the Units-98D, -23B, and the recent -02A."
"The only survivor? So that's why you're interested with him then?"
"No, not just that"
Major Elrich turned his office chair, a small smirk can be traced on his face as if plotting about something...
At the Unit-32D Barracks...
"Come on, Minoru!" Liutenant Mei said in a dissapointed tone.
"I already said it, I'm not going with you. And why are you calling me by my first name anyway?"
"E-Ehh, nothing. Don't change the topic! As a captain of the unit, it's your responsibility to know each of your lieutenants right?"
"I'll know you in the battlefield"
"You're a stubborn captain"
I sat on the leaning tree trunk with my screw drivers, fixing my radio provided by the unit. When suddenly, a throwing knife shot into my direction almost hitting me.
"Stop playing around here. Are you starting a resistance by any chance?"
"Huh? I'm not playing around" a voice from the woods spoked
"Then you should have a huge skill issue not hitting me then?"
I pulled the throwing knife imbedded in the log I'm sitting on. A guy with a white hair approached from the tree shades.
"Here, your knife" I threw it at him, and he catches it gently
"You're the new captain?"
"Uh-huh? Dissapointed?"
The white haired guy suddenly whistled with all his might, in the next moment I opened my eyes being pinned down by two people I don't recognize, I also noticed two more people standing by the side.
"Oi, what's this"
"A welcome pin down!"
"Never heard of that"
"How can you become a Captain Rank if you're this weak?"
"Alright. Playtime's over."
I activated a mechanism I created on my modified wrist watch, an electrifying rod popped out, electricuting the person pinning down my two hands.
"AGHH"
After freeing my limbs, I used my hands to build up the force in my core and finally releasing it with a powerful kick that knocked back the person pinning them down. I stand up and charged towards the white haired guy, he raised his knuckles performing a defensive stance. Since I can't hit his higher body I focused on his legs performing a 360 degree underkick planting his face on the ground and drawing his knife from his pockets in a split second.
"Oh, is this your knife."
"Ghh, you're a captain for a reason, huh."
"Hm. Oi, Mei. You guys are planning this aren't ya?"
"Huh? No. I'm with you this whole morning" Mei said with a denying tone.
I lend my hands to the white haired guy for him to stand on his feet and also given the knife I "borrowed" from him.
"I can see you're already a headache from Day 1, White haired brat"
"Don't call me White haired brat!"
"Okay, White haired brat."
"Ghh! It's Lee, Lee Weber!"
"Uh-huh"
"You see, when someone told you their name, you should say yours back."
"I don't have that problem"
Soon another four people approached me.
"Here, I'll introduce you to the unit." Lieutenant Mei said forcefully.
"The two blond hair girl is Maya and Laya, they're twins so it's a bit confusing at times."
"Hiyya" "Yoh" the twins greeted me properly.
"And the two boys who pinned you down right here is Zero and Eiji."
"Sorry man" "Lee planned it all" they said while slapping off the dirt from their dirty uniforms.
"Mmm, I'm Minoru Kaiser"
"Unfair!! Why'd you tell them your name but don't tell me?" Lee said with an annoyed tone.
"You're really asking me that?"
And that's how I met this unit. They're very close with each other, cheerful and energetic, but like every other units in this country, those smiles hide something that is better forgotten.
On that night, we sat by the campfire they set up outside the barracks, while still fixing my radio, Maya sat next to me. I was a little startled, she hid her presense really well.
"You're Laya, if I'm not wrong?"
"Maya, Laya's over there."
I glanced at Laya laughing around with Mei.
"Oh, sorry. It's hard to tell you guys apart.*
We sat in silence while looking at the other unit personels having fun at the campfire. Zero, Eiji and Lee we're having fun telling each other their made up scary stories and in the other side of the campfire is Mei and Laya talking and having fun besides each other. While sitting in silence, I can appreciate the sound of night crickets and the relaxing night ambience: the sound of the burning fire wood, the rustling of the tree leaves, and the gentle pass by ofthe cold night breeze. I just wanna stay here, awa from the piercing sounds of gunshots in the frontlines.
"Minoru-captain" Maya talked with a gentle voice that suits the quiet peaceful night around us.