Chapter 94 - Hinatas POV Refugee Outskirts (1/2)
Yuri caught up to Hinata not far from outside Tanaka's minka.
Hinata sighed at Yuri's fluid steps. It looked like his makeshift prosthetic was working well. He had managed to design a fake foot from using a wooden shoe tree, a leather belt, buckles and straps. He was glad his tailoring skills were of use to Yuri. It hadn't taken him long to make, which was just as well.
”You seem to be walking better now.” He commented to Yuri's confident strides.
”Thanks to you.” Yuri flashed him a lopsided smile. ”Have to were boots, but I can run with this.”
Yuri caught up to Hinata not far from outside Tanaka's minka.
Hinata sighed at Yuri's fluid steps. It looked like his makeshift prosthetic was working well. He had managed to design a fake foot from using a wooden shoe tree, leather belt, clothes rack parts, buckles and straps. Using the original to model from to the best of his abilities. He was glad his tailoring skills were of use to Yuri. It hadn't taken him long to make, which was just as well. Yet he also doubted that the foot device would last long. He simply didn't have enough time to make it long-term quality.
”You seem to be walking better now.” He commented to Yuri's confident strides.
”Thanks to you.” Yuri flashed him a lopsided smile. ”Have to were boots, but I can run with this.”
Hinata nodded. They turned their conversation to other topics.
”Don't think you're the only one being targeted by the secret police.” Yuri dropped his tone to almost a hush whisper when they entered the old school-hospital area.
He led Hinata away from the main crowds, towards a discreet corner at the back of one of the classrooms that acted as a recovery room.
Hinata yelped with surprise when Yuri hugged him and patted his head with a hearty thanks.
”I'm sorry if I annoyed you earlier. Takaki always warned me about being reactive,” Yuri said when he pulled out of the hug.
”Early?” Hinata cocked his head to one side, perplexed.
Yuri shook his head. ”Never mind.”
He returned to their earlier conversation about the secret police targeting others. It seemed the entire village had been raided shortly after their plight. They were looking for deserters, traitors and spies as deemed by government mandates. Somehow, they were under an impression and orders to raid remote villages and towns in the countryside for them.
”From Tanaka. It seems the secret police are on a mad rush to clean up the country.” Yuri scoffed. ”It's just to save face in my view.”
He eased himself onto one of the long benches near two tall maple trees. Hinata joined him. They stared at the view of the recovery ward windows.
”Was it bad?” Hinata soberly asked.
He was itching to know what fighting the war was like. What Eiji would've gone through before he had died.
”Fighting?” Yuri peered at Hinata's calmed face.
The distancing sunlight revealed some of the fine stress lines across the man's forehead. His soft brown eyes held a natural hardness a lot of veterans carried. The man hadn't fought the front lines, but it was clear he had lived through similar experiences.
He sighed. ”When you're marching with your squad, you're fighting for your country.”
His eyes lowered towards the line of ants marching towards a crack int the ground. One of the ants had strayed from the line to forage a crumb near Hinata's big toe.
Yuri's thoughts turned to Eiji's stoic face. That man never gave up his love for Hinata. Even when he felt sure that being sent to Iwo Jima was going to be his death. His only regret was not being able to share another meal with the man he loved.
”Facing the enemy on your own. The only thoughts are those we may never see again.”
Hinata studied Yuri's expression with silence. He heaved a deep sigh.
Abrupt shouting and curses from a distance interrupted their conversation.
They saw an amputee veteran in a heated argument with Ryōsuke, who was doing his best to calm the distressed man.