Chapter 51
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 4
Chapter Title: Graduation Ceremony
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Right after the march, I felt like I could collapse at any moment, but after one phone call, now I couldn't sleep.
I'm tired, sure, but I just can't close my eyes. Somehow, it feels like I'll be tossing and turning all night.
I keep puffing on cigarettes one after another to soothe my lonely mood. Smoking them just by holding them in my mouth and exhaling, the smell and taste actually feel pretty decent.
"How'd you end up here?"
"...There was a misunderstanding."
"I see. Hmm. Yeah."
Kate tosses a few short questions my way from beside me as we smoke together.
It's not annoying. If anything, the fact that someone's talking to me feels comforting.
"Hey, I heard something."
Kate doesn't just comfort me—she freely shares whatever info she has.
"You're heading near the Albatross Union border. The unit's pretty far from here, surrounded by two mountains, with a few small towns nearby..."
She must want to look out for me as much as she can.
"...But it's such a remote spot that no one goes there, so I don't have any other info. Being near the border might be tough."
"Got it."
Once she finishes, we both light up another cigarette like it's some unspoken agreement. We can't think of what to say next without taking a breath through that acrid smoke.
"Thanks."
"Yeah."
I express my gratitude first.
A unit near the border...
In Korean army terms, it's like getting posted to the GOP.
Following Yujin there—what kinds of incidents will I run into? Now I have to spend the next 23 months stuck there living with other isekai folks.
"You'll be fine, though."
Even in this vague situation, Kate gives me some encouragement.
"Someone like you can thrive anywhere. That's what I think."
I can't even trust myself,
but Kate believes in me.
Her hand overlaps mine on my knee.
The mood turns ambiguous.
We share cigarettes,
feeling the warmth from each other's hands.
That tiny bit of skinship burns hotter than the flame at the cigarette's tip.
A contact hot enough to blur the line between you and me...
Swoosh-swoosh—
Kate's tail sways fluffily. I've grown fond of that soft tail now, too.
Won't see it anymore after this.
This might be our last time together.
"Hey."
Kate kneads my hand firmly, then looks at me with her face flushing red.
"We don't have to date or anything. But I think I like you. Probably."
I know exactly what she wants to say.
Which makes me feel even sorrier.
"Nyaa... I just wanted to tell you."
"Yeah."
"It's a shame. One month felt way too short. If we'd had more time, things might be different now."
She's right.
If we hadn't met here at the training center...
If Kate were a college classmate, or someone I bumped into and swapped contacts with.
Would we be dating right now?
"Hey."
"Yeah."
"Even if we're not seriously dating, like before..."
Kate can't finish her sentence.
It's so different from before. Nothing weird about her pouncing on me now.
"Nyaaaa..."
She's embarrassed.
Probably scared I'll turn her down.
"...Wanna do it?"
So I say it first.
The lewd atmosphere is getting my tired body's blood pumping.
"Can we!?"
Her cat tail wags like a dog's in pure excitement.
Looking back now, she's such a cute, honest girl.
For real.
Slurp—
We don't waste any more time and embrace right away.
Lips meet, tongues entwine.
Even with sticky sweat and fatigued bodies, we can hold each other.
Can't tell who wrapped their arms around the other first. We just get drunk on the mood.
No need to watch for prying eyes while sucking and biting now.
The training center company commander's been worn out handling the Hayes mess these past few days, looking a decade older, and the other instructors are loosening up since training's almost over.
No one's stopping us.
Of course, as a trainee, I can't leave the barracks too long...
15 minutes is plenty.
We've done it like this before,
and we're both pretty practiced now.
Squelch—
A lewd sound echoes in the quiet room.
Our sticky skin clings together, honest moans blending as one.
"Nyaaat..."
Today's Kate on top again. Here, it's reversed—women usually lead from above.
Suits me fine. No need to move myself, and I can grope the breasts bouncing right in my face.
Men are all like this, I guess. Can't keep my hands off the defenseless chest of the girl bouncing vigorously on me.
"Hng, hngh."
Kate savors me buried deep inside, beaming with joy.
Life really depends on your mindset. Before, I'd just anxiously take a blowjob...
Now I fully enjoy her tightness and softness.
"Feels so good. Yeah, this is it..."
Kate says from atop me.
Her hand on my chest listens to my heartbeat.
Our ambiguous relationship doesn't matter in this moment. Honest physical exchange between man and woman washes away all worries.
"Hnnng..."
Slowly, very slowly,
Kate's body leans forward toward my face.
"Ngh... ungh..."
She shakes fiercely, then pauses for a rest,
and in those moments, our lips meet for a deep kiss...
We end our final night at the training center like this.
Etching our secret between us.
The shower's pouring water will hide it all.
Our heated body temps,
and feelings for each other.
"Yeah... you all worked hard..."
On graduation day,
the utterly deflated training center company commander starts a mundane speech in front of everyone.
"Uh... do well at your units too..."
Normally she'd ramble on with stories to embarrass the trainees, but her face shows no trace of leisure.
"That's it..."
Thanks to that, the speech ends quick.
This class had so much to cover up, and now that it's all out, she's suffering big time.
At first I thought she had it coming, but watching her, I feel a bit sorry.
...Still no need for pity.
This is the army.
Even if a NCO like the company commander screws up, worst case she suffers a bit like that and moves on.
She'll get disciplined, but not kicked out. Just delayed promotions.
Anyway.
"That concludes the graduation ceremony."
The intense month at the training center finally draws to a close.
Tomorrow, off to our units.
Me, Yujin, and Mino.
The three of us head to the same new destination.
Of course, the other trainees will go their own ways too.
Whether good or bad, parting from those we've shared ups and downs with feels pretty bittersweet.
"Each trainee, enjoy time with your families, but remember to return by 5 p.m..."
...And just as bittersweet is having no family show up even after the ceremony ends.
"Oh, my daughter!"
Families approach nearby trainees with teary joyful reunions.
What happened at the training center gets buried in everyone's hearts.
From my view, not ideal. Those women probably used me as a sex toy at least once each.
"Mom!"
But seeing them hug their families softens my irritation a bit. Yeah, whatever. Life happens, daughters get made.
They leave the training center one by one.
Graduation day allows family time.
Short outing to spend time near the center, then back. Curious how isekai folks spend family time.
"..."
I stand rigidly in place, waiting quietly.
Trainees with no visitors stay at the center.
Not that sad. Just rest a bit longer here anyway.
And some deliberately didn't call family. They'll see them on leave later, so why drag them to graduation day?
But,
even so,
the loneliness on the remaining faces can't be erased.
Among them, the one girl utterly unfazed is just one.
"Mino, you're staying too, huh."
"Yeah."
Mino beside me.
Looks like today won't be so lonely after all.
"...Tch."
On the other side, a familiar girl too.
Hayes.
Somehow she hasn't been kicked out yet.
Yeah, that's the army for you.
Incidents get downplayed, trainees all shipped to units...
Still, I don't hate Hayes anymore. She got beaten to hell by Mino, so no more mischief from her.
Feel a bit sorry for her, even.
Face all swollen, lump on the back of her head, bruises everywhere...
Looks like she was the bullied one, not us. Reality's the opposite.
"...Hic!"
Hayes even flinches and steps away when Mino glances at her.
The thrashing must've shocked her deep.
Makes sense—no one'd mess with a girl who pulverizes tiles barehanded.
"Don't freak. We're all bye-bye tomorrow anyway."
"F-freak? Bullshit. Who's freaking? Wanna kill ya."
The three of us stand side by side, letting time pass.
In the end, the problem children stay.
A weird trio of guys and girls.
And...
"Hm. Three left in 2nd Platoon, huh."
The cat instructor who'll watch over the family-less trainees for half a day.