The Unexpected

The sun dipped low on the horizon, casting long shadows across the bustling military base. Soldiers moved with purpose, the air thick with anticipation as preparations for the next day's mission ramped up. Among them was Kaito, a young man whose heart raced with a mixture of excitement and unease.

Kaito stood with his two closest friends, Kentaro and Lucy, near the briefing tent. They were caught in a moment of camaraderie, the kind that only a shared purpose could forge.

“Are you ready for this?” Kentaro asked, a grin spreading across his face. His dark eyes sparkled with the thrill of the impending mission. “I hear the Intel is solid this time.”

Kaito forced a smile, though a knot of anxiety twisted in his gut. “Yeah, ready as I’ll ever be. Just hope we don’t run into any surprises.”

Lucy nudged him playfully. “Come on, Kaito! You’re the best aero combatant in our unit. If anyone can handle surprises, it’s you.”

“I won’t be so sure” He replied with a chuckle, but the weight of responsibility hung heavy on his shoulders. Just hours earlier, he had received a call from his mother, her voice frail and filled with worry. Her illness had taken a toll on them both, and he promised to come home soon.

“Alright, listen up!” Captain Adam called out, his authoritative voice cutting through the chatter. The three friends straightened, attention fixed on their leader. “Tomorrow’s mission is crucial. We’ve got Intel on a terrorist group operating just beyond the border. Our objective is to gather information and neutralize the threat.”

Kaito felt a surge of determination. This mission was not just about duty; it was a chance to prove himself. To make his mother proud.

“Remember,” Captain Adam continued, “teamwork is key. Watch each other's backs out there. We rely on each other, and we will return as a unit.”

After the briefing, Kaito found a quiet moment away from the crowd. He glanced at a small photo tucked in his gear—a picture of him and his mother from happier days. Her smile reminded him of why he fought and why he always pushes himself to the limits.

“Hey, Yamamura!” Kentaro called, breaking him from his thoughts. “Stop daydreaming! We’ve got a mission to prepare for!”

“Yeah, yeah, I’m coming!” Kaito replied, stuffing the photo back into his pocket. As they joined the others, a charged atmosphere enveloped the group, the thrill of anticipation palpable.

As the team moved out, Kaito took a deep breath, steeling himself for what lay ahead. They flew over the landscape, the ground below shrinking into a patchwork of greens and browns. A sense of freedom filled him, momentarily pushing aside the worries that plagued him.

Then, suddenly, a glitch. The world around him flickered, like a malfunctioning hologram. One moment, he was soaring through the sky, and the next—chaos erupted.

Kaito blinked, disoriented, as he found himself in the heart of a battlefield. Explosions lit up the night sky, the air thick with smoke and shouts. Panic surged through him as he realized they were under attack.

“Kaaaitooo!” Hiroshi’s voice rang out, urgency laced in his tone.

Kaito turned, his heart racing, but the last thing he saw before darkness swallowed him was Hiroshi reaching for him, fear etched across his friend’s face.