ℂ𝕙𝕒𝕡𝕥𝕖𝕣 𝟙
Ever since I was young, all I knew was war. I knew how to use a gun, knew how to use bombs, knew how to kill. Now, here I am, fifteen years old, a corporal and head of my squadron. I was walking around the camp when I heard some commotion, I looked over and saw some rookies messing around. Pathetic. I scoff and roll my eyes, walking over to them.
“Back to work now.” I say sternly, which catches the attention of the rookies, they looked like they were in their late teens to early twenties.
“And who are you to have control over us?” One rookie speaks up, a challenging gaze on his pale face. These rookies are such a thorn in my side. I sigh and pull out my gun, pointing it at his head.
“Look closer.” I watch as the rookie’s eyes widen slightly and look down at my uniform.
“Y-you’re a corporal?...” The rookie breaths out. “You can’t be. You look like you’re not even eighteen! How’d you even-” I put my finger on the trigger and that shuts the rookie up. I look around and see a slight crowd, each of them with the same look, a look that says “he fucked up.” I smirk slightly, good, these soldier’s know who to respect. I turn my gaze back to the rookie.
“Now, are you gonna try that again or will I have to blow your brains out and onto the ground in front of everyone?”
“No sir! Sorry sir!” I move the gun from his face and point at the sky.
“Five laps around the camp, now!” I pull the trigger and the sound of a gunshot echoes throughout the camp, the rookie salutes and runs off. These rookies are going to be the death of me. I shake my head and look at the crowd that’s still there. “The hell are you still doing here? Back to training!” I watch as the others scatter to do their own thing, I huff and brush a hand through my black hair and continue walking around the camp. For once, I am able to calm down and breathe. As I walk, I think back to when I was a child, I had asked Sergeant Sato why I looked different. He didn’t sugarcoat it and said that it was because I wasn’t Japanese, which I knew. I had asked what I was and he just shrugged me off. I shake my head slightly, best not dwell on the past. I tell myself, I look around and notice that the sun is almost down, must’ve been really lost in thought. I head back to the dormitory, on the way I look at the clipboard that has who’s on night patrol down. Some Kazu guy and me. I set the clipboard back down and headed into the dormitory.
“Private Kazu! You’re on night patrol!” I watch as the rookie from earlier perks his head up and I huff. This guy of all people.
“Why? I just got here.”
“What makes you think I’m the one who makes the patrols?”
“I don’t know, you are a corporal...”
“Whatever, just grab your damn gun and meet me at the east entrance. You better be there or I swear you’ll be cleaning the mess hall for a month.” I leave, slamming the door behind me. Damn rookies are so entitled, they need to learn their place. I walk to the east entrance and wait for the rookie, I sigh. He’s late. I hear some soft crunching and look up to meet eyes with Kazu. “You’re late.”
“Sorry sir.”
“You should be.” I hissed. "How’d you even make it here?” I ask, more to myself.
“What?”
“Nothing, let’s just go.” I exit the camp, my gun slung over my shoulder. We walk around the forest surrounding the camp in silence for a few minutes.
“So... how old are you exactly?” Kazu asks, looking at me. I huff, I hate getting this question.
“Why’re you asking?”
“Just curious.” Kazu says, I sigh.
“Fifteen.”
“Woah... you’re so young.”
“Yeah, and?” I snap and glare at Kazu.
“And nothing. I think it’s actually pretty cool, but I also feel bad for you.”
“Why?”
“Well, you don’t seem to have had a childhood.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean that you don’t act like a typical fifteen year old, certainly don’t act like me when I was fifteen.”
“I... suppose not.”
“You grew up here, didn’t you?”
I freeze as he says this before continuing to walk.
“Yes, I suppose I did”
“You never did anything a typical child did, have you?”
“No... I suppose I haven’t.” I hate this. Why is he even doing this? Is he trying to get leverage on me? Is he trying to get something out of me?
“Are... you ok? I can’t imagine having to kill people at such an age.”
“I’m fine. You get... numb to it, at some point.”
“Still. must’ve been tough.”
“I... suppose so.”
“Well, I think you’ll get it one day.” Kazu says, looking up at the night sky.
“Get what?”
Kazu looks back at me and smiles slightly, “Love silly.”
“What if I don’t want a partner?”
“Who said anything about a partner, love comes in all shapes, styles, and forms. Self-love being one of them.”
“Tch, whatever.” I turn around abruptly and start heading back to camp. I hear the soft crunching of Kazu’s boots on the dirt as he runs after me. There’s a tense silence, I’ve noticed that’s how most conversations with me end.
“So... have you been into town yet?”
“Yes, I have.”
“Anyone catch your eye.”
“No, most of the girls in that town are prissy brats who don’t know when to take no for an answer.”
“Wow, you do not hold back, do you?”
“No, I see no purpose in sugarcoating anything.”
“Well... did you see any guys you were interested in?”
I choke on air and cover my mouth. “What?” I wheeze out, still coughing.
“Nothing wrong with liking men, I could care less what gender you’re attracted to.”
“Why would you even ask me that?”
“Don’t know, you just seem like that kind of guy.”
“I am not, I see no purpose in finding love.” I hiss, ending the conversation. We walk in silence and I start thinking about this camp, my squadron, and what he’s been talking about. This place... it doesn’t seem like the military looking back on it... seems like a terrorist group, disguised as a military squadron. As I’m lost in thought, I feel something brush against my waist, I whirl around to see Kazu lightly touching it. “What are you doing?”
“Nothing...” He mumbles out, I look at him and see his pupils dilated unnaturally large.
“Ok...” I say hesitantly and quickly walk into the camp, heading straight to my office. That was so odd. I shake my head slightly and go to a filing cabinet, rummaging through it to find his file. I find it finally:
Name: Usu Kazu
Sex: Male
Age: 22
Hair color: Black
Eye color: Brown
Reason for joining: Arrested for sexual assault, rape, murder, forgery, and kidnapping of multiple young boys. Required to join the military after good behavior was shown in prison. Moved to Niwa squadron due to allegations of harassment against peers; peers attacked him, moved for safety. Not allowed to be alone with members under eighteen. Eyes must be kept on him at all times.
My eyes widen as I read his file, I immediately get up and lock my door. I go over to the door on the left side of my office and lock it as well, pulling the curtain in front of it. They moved a pedophile to my squadron. The only squadron ran by someone under eighteen. I let out a slightly shaky breath and sat back down at my desk. I grab a piece of paper and start writing a move request form. He needs to be out of my squadron NOW. My squadron has the most members under eighteen and they moved him to it? What the hell is wrong with them. I sigh and lean back in my chair. I hear knocking at my door and a familiar voice rings out.
“Hey, you in there?”
Why the hell is he here? I stay quiet and don’t make a noise. Hopefully he’ll think I’m not here. It’s silent for a few seconds before I hear the receding of his boots on the wood floor. I let out a quiet sigh and rested my head in my hands. Someone requested him to be in my squadron, someone put me on patrol with him.
