Chapter 47
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 4
Chapter Title: Joy of Reunion
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“Jeong-woo, you're my favorite.”
A voice permeating somewhere deep in my chest.
The whisper of an old friend, her youthful innocence adorably seeping through.
“Really. You're the most precious person to me.”
I can't recall exactly when it happened. Well, I can barely remember things from just three years ago most of the time.
Perfectly recalling events from childhood is impossible. At best, maybe from first or second grade.
“And you?”
Yet I clearly remember the name of the girl lying with her head in my lap. Reconstructing her sharp, defined features presents no difficulty at all.
It's a face that's hard to forget. A beauty so outstanding it makes me feel sorry for even daring to speak to her...
“What about you? Why won't you answer?”
“Ow, ouch.”
She pinched my cheek and fussed. It hurt so much that tears pricked at my eyes. Still, she kept poking my cheek with a pouty expression.
“Me too.”
“Me too what? Say it properly.”
“That Yujin, you're incredibly precious to me.”
“Really? Hehe.”
I didn't feel great.
Saying such embarrassingly corny things was mortifying.
I was scared other kids might see,
worried I'd get teased.
...Of course.
Back in early elementary school, kids teased you endlessly if a boy and girl were seen together.
Impossible.
Must be a misunderstanding. I just happened to meet a woman who looks like her.
“Make yourselves comfortable, both of you. How about a cup of tea?”
But old memories keep surging through my mind. Precious recollections I'd momentarily forgotten...
“Let me introduce myself again. I'm Captain Yujin, attached to the Intelligence Company of the 13th Infantry Brigade. No need to overthink it—just call me Company Commander from now on.”
Even the name matches.
Maybe it really is...
No!
I need to snap out of it. I can't let memories sway me. Right now, I'm in the midst of the most crucial event at this training camp.
I can't get excited just because I met someone who resembles an old friend. The odds it's the same person are practically zero anyway.
This is another world.
She and I are from Earth.
The two of us getting dragged to this absurd other world and reuniting like this? Ridiculous.
“I'm planning to take you two to our unit—the ones who showed the best scores and mental fortitude. Of course, you caused quite the incident just now, but I'll handle smoothing that over somehow.”
And yet this woman...
No, this Company Commander smiles at me with utmost kindness.
“What do you think?”
She even offers us a choice. Trainees are subhuman creatures who obey orders without question, yet she's showing remarkable leniency.
She doesn't seem like a bad person. My judgment of character isn't the greatest, but no matter how I look at her, she's not just pretty—she has a gentle, soft personality.
She's not the cunning training camp commander type either. Hard to put into words, but she exudes an air of competence.
Like Mino. Someone who can accomplish anything, producing far superior results than others...
“Y-Yes, sir!”
I snap to attention and respond loudly and clearly. Mino glances back and forth between me and Captain Yujin, falls silent for about three seconds, then...
“I'd like that too.”
...nods and says.
Captain Yujin claps delightedly, her face blooming into a full smile as she stands.
“Everyone agrees? What a relief.”
Graceful movements.
A steadfast posture without the slightest waver.
“See you again in four days. You two don't need to follow the other trainees—just wait here and come with me.”
Casual sociability, a clear and refreshing aura that puts people at ease, elegant silver hair and blue eyes...
“Just handle the remaining training well. Got it? Finish it off healthy, and we'll go together with the Company Commander.”
Everything matches that girl from my memories exactly.
Without a single exception.
“Oh, right. Trainee Han Jeong-woo, stay here a moment. We have more to discuss.”
My heart pounds.
My blood runs hot.
“Trainee Mino, you're free to head back first. No need to worry too much about today's incident. Understand? You're in the same boat with the Company Commander now. Let's get along!”
What could be her intention in leaving me behind alone?
Maybe for real,
perhaps...
Creeeak.
The door closes,
and in the company commander's office, only Captain Yujin and I remain.
The old company commander in charge of the training camp is off scrubbing showers with a broom and mop, so truly, no one else will come looking for us.
“Whew.”
As such, Captain Yujin lets out a sigh of relief the moment the door shuts and approaches calmly. Even her gait is elegant and refined.
Her large, beautiful eyes fix straight on me. I can't utter a word, just staring back at her dumbly with my mouth agape...
“Jeong-woo, hi.”
Captain Yujin calls my name.
No—Yujin calls my name.
“Have you been well?”
Rain falls in her blue eyes. Right before me, tears begin to well up in hers.
“...Yujin? The Yujin I know?”
Instead of answering, she pulls me into a tight embrace. In that wordless hug, I frantically try to process this bewildering situation with my brain...
“What the hell is this?”
Impossible. My elementary school friend from way back existing in this other world—not to mention holding the high rank of captain.
Nothing adds up. But her warm embrace carries the long-lost scent of our old hometown, so I gently hold her trembling back.
“Why are you here? Wait, hold on. Huh? No, what is this?”
Should I be happy?
Having run into my childhood friend in this merciless other world where I know no one—should I shed tears of emotion and celebrate our reunion?
“What on earth happened? Were you dragged here too...?”
But an inexplicable foreboding refuses to fade. No matter how I turn it over in my mind, the pieces don't fit.
“Huh? Ahaha. What are you talking about?”
Yujin's face, staring straight at me, shows no trace of hardship.
If she'd been pulled here like me, she'd surely have faced all sorts of inconveniences.
No, right.
I can't suspect Yujin.
Men's rights are a bit low here, so it might have been easier for her. She might have started with some cheat ability I wasn't given.
At any rate, she must have put in tremendous effort to adapt to this culture.
At least, the Yujin in my memories was the girl I played games with, hung out with, and shared snacks with.
How much must she have suffered to survive in a harsh place like this?
“I've been waiting for you. Here, all this time.”
But in that instant, I doubt my own ears.
I have no idea what Yujin means. Waiting for me?
As if she knew in advance that I'd be summoned to this world.
“We finally meet again. I've been waiting for this moment every single day, without fail, only this moment...”
Her hand touches my cheek. The warm caress melts my heart, but it also summons forth every sealed memory that had been frozen solid.
Strangely, my memories with Yujin lack clear conclusions.
Why did we drift apart?
We were definitely really close.
Then at some point, Yujin moved away.
After that,
I even felt relieved, somehow.
“Hold on a sec.”
A chill runs down my spine—
I shake off Yujin's hand without thinking.
Goosebumps erupt in an instant. Putting distance between myself and a long-lost childhood friend like this is incredibly rude, but...
“...Yujin, can I ask you just one thing?”
“Of course.”
I pull her hand down and grip her wrist tightly.
“Are you... from this world, by any chance?”
“That's right.”
“Ah, ahaha... Really? I had no idea.”
I'd thought she was from a multicultural family.
The white hair, the blue eyes.
Even being far too pretty compared to the other kids.
“When did you join the military? Already a captain—that's an insanely fast promotion, right? Th-that's impressive...?”
Cold sweat trickles down.
My head throbs. The intense headache feels like it's demanding I shut my mouth right now.
Cognitive dissonance.
I'm wary of Yujin,
yet at the same time, I see her as my sole hope.
If Yujin is from this world but was on Earth as a child, she might be able to travel between Earth and here.
Which would make her my one and only hope of getting home.
But before grasping the full picture,
I have to ask her the truth.
“But earlier, you said you'd been waiting for me?”
“Yeah.”
“How?”
“Huh?”
“How did you know I'd be dragged here?”
Yujin blinks.
That innocent expression terrifies me even more.
“Well, of course. I brought you here, didn't I?”
And then,
the answer I absolutely never wanted to hear pierces my ears like a dagger.