Unwise

Asa walks away from the bus stop, towards the only direction that feels familiar. Her steps are slow and heavy, but she tries to make them featherlight, as if she’d shatter the ground if she just let them be.  The dress uniform she’s wearing doesn’t make it any easier, either. Her movements are subconsciously trying to minimise creases, just like how she was on the first day she wore it some eight years ago. 

To be fair, Asa hasn’t touched it in over two years. Not since the last funeral she had to attend. Now she thinks about it, this uniform hasn’t been worn for any joyous event since her promotion. Every instance after had been sorrowful or hollow.

This service member wasn’t even anybody she knew. Just another death. Another veteran. A relatively young veteran, which seems to be the rising trend. Rather it was the person she left behind, the man who cherished her more than anyone else in the world. That’s who she showed up for. Not the Chief of Staff, the Minister of Defense, the Prime Minister, or the Emperor. Him. The man she is most concerned for, setting aside her own opinions towards him.

“Damn, sarge,” she smiles pensively and stops walking, looking into the cloudy sky. “I…I sincerely wish that you deal with this better. For your own sake. Don’t fucking hurt yourself again, please.” With the words she didn’t have the courage to say in front of his face, Asa continues her walk. Just a little bit lighter, this time.

Asa keeps walking and walking. The efforts to clear her head has the effect of making it too noisy to provide solid navigation, so her legs take the lead. And they lead her to that street. The street where a man expressed his genuine, peculiar curiosity in a way that made her amused rather than uncomfortable.

She stops a few meters in front of the café’s facade, eyes blinking rapidly as she returns to full control. She spots him. Her heart lightens by a noticeable amount, lifting up her lips and tired eyes. Her hands follow suit, both waving at him through the glass.

But before she takes another step, a figure enters her vision from across the street, getting closer. Doesn’t take long for Asa to recognise his outfit, causing the light on her face to dissipate entirely. Peaked cap, long coat, the suit. All in the same exact shade of green as hers, with one distinct difference; a pair of red and gold epaulettes, each with two silver cherry blossoms.

He stops in perfect step two meters in front of Asa, giving a bow. She glares at him with her soured expression for a few seconds before returning the bow, begrudgingly. 

“Lance Corporal Enami Asa?” he asks with a polite smile.

Asa raises a brow. “Who’s asking?”

“Ah. Lieutenant Sakano Keisuke, JNA Intelligence Corps, Nagoya HQ. I come—”

“JNARIC? What the hell does Intel want with me? I’m out! What, someone upstairs forgot to change my status to ‘Retired’?”

Lieutenant Sakano closes his jaws and swallows, trying to maintain his smile. “With your cooperation, this won’t take very long, Enami-sama. Perhaps you'd like us to discuss inside, where it’s warm? You seem to be heading there anyway,” he offers, extending his arm towards the door. It’s only now Asa notices what looks to be a folder under his other arm.

Taking a quick glance at the barista, she sucks through her teeth and clicks her tongue. “No. Not in there,” she hisses. “Follow me.” She cocks her head and turns around, storming away from the café. Sakano sighs and rolls his shoulders, walking after her.

They arrive at a secluded alleyway far away from the café. Asa stops and turns on her heel, scrutinising the officer. “So, Lieutenant Sakano. What’s this all about?”

Lieutenant Sakano smiles and reveals the folder under his armpit, extending it to her. “The Japanese National Army Intelligence Corps has called for your presence at the Nagoya headquarters, Enami-sama. You are to arrive on base by 12:00 hours this Friday.”

Asa raises a brow and peeks at her watch. “That’s…less than 96 hours. All the way in Nagoya?”

“Correct.”

She throws her arms up. “May I know what all the fanfare is all about, at least? This couldn’t have been an email, or a call?”

“Further information is contained within this document, Enami-sama. I am unable to disclose details beyond what I’ve been tasked with. Please, take it.”

Asa sighs and snags the folder away, opening it and looking through. Lieutenant Sakano clears his throat and continues, “You are to appear wearing the No. 2 Service Dress or—”

“Are you fucking with me?” Asa spits.

“—higher…pardon?”

She flaps the folder around in his face. “This was issued six days ago, Lieutenant. Why is it only here now? Did you walk all the way from Nagoya or something, sir?”

Lieutenant Sakano’s demeanour begins to falter, letting out a few uneasy chuckles. “Some…circumstances had led to this outcome, Enami-sama. As I was saying…” he clears his throat loudly. “You are to appear wearing the No. 2 Service Dress or higher. Is there anything unclear regarding the instructions?”