前のエピソード――Chapter Five Part Four | Promise

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　Chapter 5 Part 5 | Past Is Always Your Own

　23:02 ― SWCNGDI-Hitachinaka ― 16°C Light Shower

　It's dark now. But Shigure recognises this place well. The roads, buildings, gardens, it's all the same as it was long ago. Though here, it seems quieter than other bases. Military police somewhat more scarce. Perhaps it's due to it being late, or maybe because he was more active, but it certainly feels slower here than he remembers. No sirens, no deployment calls, nothing of the sorts.

　The trickles of raindrops bead onto his hair, dripping slowly down leaves also. Tsuiki didn't have any greenery of notice, nor any much colour. Here however is different. Brick buildings instead of cast concrete, and lanes of well-kept shrubbery.

　There's a lot that must be done now. His promotion, despite being unwanted to a degree, happened. He'll need to acquire his white uniform, make introductions, review the squadron's progress, take inventory on who's Gleipnir is who's.

　Rain is no place for this, so he picks up his pace. Trying to prevent his uniform and rank insignia from being soaked.

　Entering the building's front door, met with the faces of other Operators. Holding streamers, and confetti poppers. They smile and cheer, welcoming him. Though, these are faces of soldiers who never came home. Faces confined to only his memories. The time he returned from promotion, the celebration Akasha squadron held for him. That's what this is.

　'Congratulations!' strung across the ceiling on rope, most members not in their uniform, instead in silly more casual clothing. It's been a long time since he thought of this, so why has it shown itself now? He wishes that he engaged with them just a fraction more that day... Instead, it's just another guilty thought.

　A blink, and it's gone. Again. Just the painted walls and some real laughter of soldiers throughout the complex.

　He deserves this. He hadn't any mercy when he took the lives of so many others. 'So why would I dese-'. No. He shouldn't linger on this. It's not his place to become emotional. He's Shigure, a Mechanized Officer of the Gleipnir Mechanized Regiment. Akasha squadron's commander - one more time. Not someone with the luxury to beg a higher power for forgiveness.

　These halls are decorated more than Tsuiki's. Medallions, posters, pin-up boards with papers belonging to servicemen, and childish notes glued about. Whatever Yamamoto has done, he's certainly selected those with attributes reminiscent of those who lived here before.

　After briefly fiddling with his pockets. He draws a key for his quarter's doors. It slips contently inwards, turning without resistance, and popping it open. An officer's room, hence the lack of a sliding door. Stepping forward, inwards, the lights flick on. Not awful whites, instead a lower, warmer hue. It smells clean, like laundry had just been done.

　A few desks, large and oak, one topped with a coffee machine, the other a computer. A comfy appearing bed and seats. It's a sudden difference from his typical quarters at Tsuiki, the blatant increase of items... bothers him. Just more to clean.

　Pacing over to the coffee machine, he decides, for once, he will brew a coffee. By no means does he drink it often. Tonight though, it seems he'll be needing to re-adjust to many things. One cup might help, and it'll certainly do no harm.

　'I need to email Yato about all this... here's praying she's a good officer who'll check her inbox...' Leaving Yato and the remainder of Kodo squad behind isn't exactly something Shigure plans on doing.