Volume 1 Chapter 1 Part4 (1/2)
On that day in Yokosuka City, Kanagawa Prefecture the cloudy weather looked like it ht rain
For a shi+p leaving port it was so weather
Hiroyuki Kuze of the Ground Self-Defense Force, lined up in perfect order at the railing with a subordinate, and looked down at the Yokosuka Maritime Self-Defense Force base before their eyes
Because the deck of the transport was al they had a co view of the wharves
Drizzle lightly hit his cheek
From the wharf could be heard the shrill voice of a female reporter for a TV station
”Yes! This is the Yokosuka Mariti Although called international cooperation, the fleet is sailing to join a so-called UN Peacekeeping force!”
She was speaking in a purposely tense voice that ell understood by Kuze
Probably in the evening neith heavy BGM[1], it will portray the Self-Defence force as ”Dispatching Troops” to foreign countries
”Sailing at this time is a transport vessel, and supply shi+ps, defended by a state-of-the-art Aegis class Destroyer of the Maritime Self-Defense Force for a total of 5 shi+ps The transport vessel is said to have state-of-the-art tanks and military helicopters, and it is an 'operational unit' unlike any force dispatched in the past”
The fe back at the fleet sailing aas captured on camera
”The flagshi+p 'Ibuki' is a state-of-the-art Aegis destroyer and was built as a ballistic missle interception warshi+p, and the Self-Defense Forces have fully armed it for its overseas deployment In it's deploy ballistic missles and 'Ibuki' has a duty by international law to shoot them down”
The reporter flipped open a flip diagrah sketch, of how ballistic missle interceptions worked
And then discussed the differences of this deployment tensely
”The dispatch of the Aegis destroyer 'Ibuki' is said to be part of a certain plan of the government and top echelon of the military It-----”
The reporter turned over the flip and showed a photograph from last years public military parade, by The North, of it's mobile ballistic launch system
”The North's nuclear arround”
The reporter lowered the flip display and looked at the stern of the Aegis Destroyer that was out in the open sea
”The Aegis destroyer with its nuclear ency reponse to intercept any ballistic missles launched by the rebel army As a result japan can advertise to the world it has an effective defense against nuclear attacks Behind the shadow of internation collaboration is the government's plan, which isn't unrelated to how tense the military picture of Far Eastern Asia has become”
He couldn't hear the reporters voice anymore
They too far from land now
In Kuze'sjapan And with that ca mysterious[2]
Kuze raised the visor of his cae work cap a bit and looked for a certain face in the crowd of families and concerned people who came to see them off at the wharf
After a moment Kuze's, ill honestly turn twenty-four this year, softhearted face became as cloudy as the weather
Though young, an officer's insignia was shown at his collar, a cherry blossom and a bar Three steps below a major, or in other armies a second lieutenant[3]
The young officer was looking for the lover who had seperated froo
Even though they had seperated he had expected her to come see him off
However, co to see an ex-boyfriend off sounds funny when said
Afterall, his expectation didn't come true
Having expected it was regretful
Kuze was disappointed and looked up into the sky
The light drizzle turned to large rain drops
”Are you crying Platoon leader Kuze?”
Standing next to hi subordinate, who could only be described as looking very young, asked that ”Ichinose” was ee uniform
He was a bad brat of a private with a suggestive laugh, and even though Kuze was his superior officer they got along well for some reason Possibly because of his boldness to say without hesitation which is the opposite of ht
”I'”
Honestly it was a bluff
”Liar, you are crying It seems she's not here?”
”Stupid ex-girlfriend”
”All the more reason not to cry”
After he let out a sign and smiled wryly, Kuze put on a serious look like a commander and looked at the people on the wharf
It was like a hollywood”I pray you coance
However, wanting the one you want to protect by your side, I don't think that's too extravagent for a Self-Defence officer
That there's no one to see you off, there shouldn't be a ”Serviceman” who has that complaint
As she said, when graduating fro an officer of the Self-Defense Force, I could have becoe company
She aiting to the end
『So in the Self-Defence forces』
Indirectly she wished me to think of the future of two people
I wasn't able to notice her wish
Zama! The present me[4]
As the rain continued to pour down on the deck of the transport warshi+p,
Kuze was fed up with himself
”……Is a stubborn irlfriend?”
”You, you are cleaning toilets for threetoday”
”A-abuse of power!”
”Ah! Ichinose, look!”
Kuze pointed at one girl in particular on the wharf It was a girl with twin tails wearing a high school uniform
”Hey, there The younger sister came to anxiously see you off”
”Oh! Mina!? Good grief, even though I said it was safe”