Hopeless Beginnings

       “Aaargh,” a man cried as the scene shifted into a small building with many wounded soldiers resting on the ground. “Am I going to make it?” said the injured man. “Yes, don't worry, you'll be fine, you just need to rest for some time,” said the doctor. “Touma!” A man screamed from the entrance of the building and waved his hand getting the doctor's attention. The doctor got up and went to the man, “Seki, you're back! Come, let's talk outside,” said the doctor. Both exited the building and walked beside each other. “So Touma, how are the wounded in your shelter?” said Seki. “There's some hope for some, but not for all, most end up turning, and besides that, there's not much medical equipment, we are defenseless here.” Said Touma. “Yes, that is true, and it's all because of those rich tyrants, creating a diseased and abandoning Earth not even taking responsibility. If I come across one of them, you know I’d kill them.” Said Seki in anger. “Yeah, they are at fault here, but now they're far from Earth and there's nothing we can do. So how did your scouting mission go?” asked Touma. “Well, it wasn't that bad, though we did have to fight some of those monsters, but I guess that's the daily here.” Said Seki. From the distance, someone is calling out to Seki. “Well, that's my call, I got to start heading out,” said Seki. “You're leaving again, that quick.” Asked Touma. “Yeah, nowadays it's getting a bit harder, the monsters are getting stronger and we got to expand to find more equipment.” Said Seki. “I guess you're right, Well I'll see you when you come back.” Said Touma. “Sure will, don't stress yourself, you can't be dying before me, ok.” Said Saki. As he waved goodbye and started walking towards the person who called him.

Toma was about to head back when someone called out to him from behind, “Mr. Hadachi.” Touma looked back and waited until the person came close to him. “Dr. Hidayashi, I'm here to bring you to the Chief.” Said the man. “I see Well then, lead the way.” Said Touma. As they walked through the camp, they eventually made it to a building Inside, there was the chief sitting behind a large desk. “Chief, I have brought Dr. Hidayashi here.” Said the man. “OK. Thank you. You can take your leave.” Said the Chief. As the man leaves this, the chief gets up from his chair and walks over to Touma and hugs him. “I have been busy with a lot of distribution and searching for people and equipment. I have forgotten to visit my great old friend.” Said the chief. “Hello, I am doing fine, busy as always.” Said Touma. “So, tell me, how are the injured doing? Said the chief. “I can't give a certain answer but about half of them. Will most likely turn into monsters by the end of the week.” Said Touma. “I see, it’s been five years since this started and even our chemics haven't found a cure just last week we lost one of our chemics, but what is of us if we don't have hope? Said the chief as he put on a big smile. Toma took a look at him. “Hope, how are we going to have hope in this situation? Every day we are losing people dying of sickness or turning into a monster, and we have to kill them ourselves. How is there hope after so long? Are you Blind? Do you just not want to see it? That there is no hope Junkei. Now our only option is to wait until our deaths come.” Said Toma in an angry tone. The chief was stunned by Tomas’ response, and he let out a sigh. “I understand where you're coming from. How about we take a drink later today on me?” said Junkei. “Alright, fine.” Said Touma as he took his leave.

Later that day Touma went to a torn-up bar as he opened the door, he noticed the table that Junkei was in with some other people, and he went in. “Ohh Touma, we're here come sit next to me.” Said Junkei waving his hand to come. Touma went up to them and sat next to Junkei. And Junkei called over to the bartender to bring Touma something to drink. And they all talked. For some time. Time later. They all. From one topic to another came the topic about the rich people that abandoned earth from time ago. “But for real, what would you do Chief if you had the chance to see one of those rich people? Don't tell me you wouldn't want to get some punches in!” Said one of the men there. “I would want to know too, Chief here is probably one of those people who are so silent but are in rage inside.” Set another man. “Hmm, If I could meet one of those rich people again, I would try to bargain with them and see if they could help out.” Said Junkei. “But wouldn't you want to get some payback on those sons of a—” Was saying one of the men until Junkei interrupted. “Even though if I throw, 1 million punches at them, would it solve the current situation? Said Junkei in a calm voice. Touma looked up to Junkei and was surprised at his answer. “I guess not.” said another man. “Exactly.” Said Junkei. Suddenly he remembered something. “OH, right, another thing I gathered all of you here is because we found recently some buildings and even though the monsters were killed you guys will be going in a group and Dr. Hadashi here will be accompanying you guys.” Said Junkei. “What? Why do I have to go? I haven't gone on an expedition in so long.” Said Touma “Well, it isn’t that bad to have a change of scenery from time to time plus, I heard from one of the scouts that there might be medicinal things there, so you can select the most important things that could help the people.” Said Junkei. “Fine, I guess I could go.” Said Touma. Junkei smiled and patted him on the back. “That's great, you guys will be heading out tomorrow morning, so I hope you sleep well.” Said Junkei. As everyone went to their places to rest. The next day the group is ready and Touma arrives. They were all ready to head out but before that Junkei put his hand on Touma’s shoulder and Touma looked back at Junkei. “I don't want to force you to change your views, but I do hope that you also gain a bit of hope in the people around you and in yourself that things could get better.” Said Junkei. Touma sighs “I will think about it.” He spoke. “Well then, I shouldn't hold you back any longer you should get going now.” Said Junkei while he released his hand from Touma’s shoulder and waved goodbye to the group. They started the vehicle and headed in the Ruin's direction.

Days later, they finally made it to their destination, and they saw a huge building that had collapsed, with its walls destroyed, making many entries into the place. Touma and the other men who came with him got out of the vehicle. And grab some bags and equipment. They all walk toward what looks like to be the main entrance of the building. “OK, everyone spread out and grab as many materials as you can!” Said Touma. The other men did as he said, and each one went their way. Touma kept on heading deep into the building and found a room that seemed like a medical room that held equipment. He searched for what was most important and what he needed as he left the room, he heard a cracking noise coming from the wall. “It sounds like this building might come down at any moment I must find more things before I leave,” said Touma. As he kept on walking, he heard some whimpers as he got closer to the whimpers, he noticed that the sound was coming from behind some debris that had fallen. Touma started to remove some of the debris as fast as he could, and he was amazed at what he found. “But how? - “, was saying Touma looking at a small girl with tears in her eyes and with had injured her arm. “How could a kid have survived for this long alone?” He continued. He noticed her injured arm and tried to get close, but she retreated. “Your arm is injured let me help you.” Said Touma but the girl would not get close, luckily, he remembered he had taken a stuffed bear from the last room and was planning to give it to one of the kids back at the camp, he took out the stuffed bear from the black bag and shacked it a bit to get her attention and it did as she got closer, he said: “if you let me treat you I will give the bear.” She nodded in agreement and made her a small arm sling. Suddenly, a huge growling can be heard getting closer, Touma stood up immediately as he heard the sound. “Dr. Hidayashi!” one of the men screamed as he ran towards Touma. “We must leave, the monsters are closing in!” said the man. At that moment the little girl held on to Touma tightly, “Please don't leave me” she said. Touma kneeled and carried her. “Don't worry, I won't leave you,” Touma said with a smile.

Touma and the other man started running towards the exit and heading towards the vehicle. Seeing the other men already there, “How much ammunition do we have?” Ask Touma. “Not enough to bring down that horde of monsters and if we leave now, the monsters might chase us towards the camp.” The man responded. “He's right if we leave now, they'll just follow us, what should we do? Thought Touma as he looked around to the other men then glancing over to the man next to him. “Get the car running,” said Touma, giving him the little girl. “As you say doc.” said the man as he got the little girl and entered the car. After that Touma pointed at one of the men as the others knew what would happen and they all got in the car. The man got closer to Touma as he reached for some things in the back of the car. “At your order.” Said the man. With an aching heart, Touma said, “You die here.” Handing over two of their pans and an explosive vest. “Understood!” said the man as he started running back to the broken-down building clanging together the two pans attracting the monsters towards the building. Turning he went and got into the vehicle as they started driving away a huge explosion could be heard. Touma looked back through the mirror seeing all of what was left of the building crumbling down. With a deep breath, he looked forward. “Mission completed,” said Toma. As they all drove back to the camp.