44 Dimensional Crack (2/2)

”Hmm.”

Han narrowed his eyes. Kuro and Jose were the worst at old maid. They easily showed their true feelings on their faces, and usually got the short end of the stick.

'Kuro is pretty good. But the best person at this game is Kijo.'

Kijo is good at reading between the lines and deciphering his opponent's thoughts. Kijo looked to be the person who held the least greed for the snacks.

'Unexpectedly…. Kijo is very cunning. Though I think he has taken his strengths in a strange direction.'

Kijo always complained, but he stuck to Han's side like a piece of gum. He sat near Han during lectures. After training, he would fetch Han a bottle of water even if this wasn't requested of him.

'He must be a natural born brown noser.'

While Han was distracted, Kijo threw all the cards in his hand down.

”Hehe! I'm first!”

They had a lot of time left, and their old maid game continued. Kijo sat beside Kuro on purpose.

'I shall empty your pockets thoroughly today. Kuro!'

Kijo still held a bit of a grudge towards Kuro. He had purposely made Kuro pull out the Joker from his hand. Kuro was weak in the psychological warfare of cards and had repeatedly gotten himself done in by Kijo.

”Ugh.”

Kuro had his snacks taken away in a flash. Kijo looked to Kuro with a triumphant face.

'What petty revenge.'

Han had heard of the episode between Kuro and Kijo long beforehand. Kijo enjoyed teasing Kuro quite a bit.

”Now now, let's start ending this game. It's time to assemble soon.”

Han said, ending their last game. Kuro looked downcast for losing all his snacks. Han looked at Kuro's forlorn back. Kijo stopped Kuro by holding onto the other's shoulder.

”Hey pal, you lost everything today, right?”

Kijo said teasingly. Kuro slightly narrowed his eyes.

”Are you teasing me? Go away.”

”You should listen to a person's words until the end. In Korea, we have affection. We have something called a winner's tip. Do you know of this?”

”What's that?”

”The winner will tip a bit toward the loser who lost it all. Take it, pal. Take this and don't be so mad. Let's be friends, huh?”

Kijo stuffed a handful of chocolate into Kuro's pocket. Kijo smiled. Kuro looked deeply moved by Kijo's gift.

”You, you're a good guy aren't you??”

”You only know that now? Then see ya later.”

Kijo cooly turned his back and waved his hand. Kijo laughed with a wicked smile.

'Kuro has abundant talent to succeed in the future. There's nothing wrong with making a friendship with him early on. He's also Han's best friend. I will be the one to control Squad 13 from the shadows. Huhu.'

”Now, we will head off to Sinuiju where we will find the remnants of the dimensional gate.”

The drill instructor said in front of the transport planes. Each squad was assigned to different transport planes. There were two additional pilots to each plane and one drill instructor. Han and Squad 13 hopped orderly onto the transport plane. They sat on their assigned seats and secured their seat belts.

”The dimensional crack is what remained after the gate disappeared. This is proof that the two worlds are connected. It was theorized that psykers began making appearances because of the influence from psychic energies of the crack. When we approach the dimensional gate, some of you will feel very comfortable like you've returned home, while some of you will feel extreme terror. The goal of today's drill will be for you to remember the feeling that you experience.”

The drill instructor was speaking while standing, holding onto the handles attached to the plane's interior wall. Soon, the transport plane took off. The youths looked out the windows toward the view of the ocean outside. The blue ocean seemed to move in a single fluid movement. Eventually, the children wore bored faces after looking out at same view for a long while. The students chatted or napped while leaning against the wall. The drill instructor didn't bother to stop anyone from doing so.

”Look, it's Japan!”

Kuro said. They could see the Japanese islands in the far distance. Kuro's eyes sparkled while getting worked up. Han could feel his heart racing as well.

'Soon we will see Korea as well.'

They flew past Japan and entered Korea's airspace. Han gave a sidelong scowl. He only had bad memories of Korea, but still felt homesick for the place. Although the place had been a nightmare, he had slivers of good memories from the place.

”Mom….”

Han heard Kijo mumbling. Kijo had his hand against the window while looking down across the land. His eyes didn't seem to reflect his usual slyness. He seemed like a young child who simply missed his homeland.

'Does he miss his parents?'

Han didn't know what his parents looked like at all because his earliest memory was of the orphanage.