前のエピソード――Chapter Five Part Three | Conviction

　Chapter 5 Part 4 | Promise

　He thought he'd be happy about this all. About being able to operate again, and the hidden promise to be able to fight. Hearing it from Yamamoto instead just kills him inside. Why'd he have to bring so much up? Why'd he have to rub it in his face. Supressed guilt is enough, he doesn't need his Commanding officer to condemn him.

　Yamamoto glares through Shigure, not long after, his face relaxes with a sigh. "You've changed." He scrunches the map away. "For better or worse. Who knows. But if it slows you down, Shigure... I have so much more I can take from you..."

　With a momentary pause. "Ahem." Drumming his fingers across his desk, continuing. "You're going back, Shigure. SWCNGDI-Hitachinaka. You'll be placed back in command of Akasha squadron, exactly like it was."

　Second Ward Central Naval and Ground Defence Installation Hitachinaka. A mouthful, causing enlisted to simply shorten it to Hitachinaka or just NGDI-Hita. The largest installation in Japan, over 3000 square kilometres, pressed against Tokyo. The main harbour for the Japanese Maritime Defence Force, and home to a massive garrison of ground defence units overseeing Tokyo and the surrounding areas.

　Though, Akasha squadron? They'd been wiped out long ago, or at least, that's what's in the records. He'd in fact been the squadron commander, the GFM-Commodore. He watched the final deployment - he was there. Yet now, Yamamoto says Akasha squadron is back? Sure, they could replace lost operators, and that's what would of occurred. But why reinstate the squad...?

　"You're to leave tonight. They'll be awaiting their new commander. And they know it will be you, so don't try anything. If you haven't any questions, then you can be on your way. Commodore, dismissed."

　"Sir." Shigure salutes, pivoting around and leaving the office.

　There's too much for him to contemplate. He sees no reason thinking over it now, he's too flustered from everything that flashed over him. Not to mention, Central is difficult enough to navigate. He'll save it for later, when he's in a clearer mind, to place his puzzle pieces back into place.