Chapter 0: The Last Hell

The pale light of the flickering fluorescent lamps in the military cargo plane felt like it was piercing his eyes. Before Arata, eight metal caskets were lined up neatly, each draped in a red-and-white flag. The coldness of the caskets was nothing compared to the emptiness he felt. He stared at his own reflection in the window; his dark brown eyes no longer held life, only the reflection of the figures now resting inside those caskets.

The mission was a success. All enemies were eliminated. Yet, Arata was the only one who made it back. Not as a hero, but as a ghost carrying the spirits of his friends home. He was the sole witness to a victory that came at too high a price.

When the plane landed, there was no warm welcome or cheering. All that awaited him was a cold interrogation room. Two Military Police officers and his commander, Colonel Kazama, stared at him with looks of deep skepticism.

"Masamune, explain it one more time," Colonel Kazama's voice was heavy and full of pressure. "Why were you the only one to survive a successful mission?"

Arata answered in a monotone voice, repeating the same story for the umpteenth time. Every word felt like a shard of glass scraping his throat. He knew they weren't looking for the truth; they were looking for a reason why a single man could survive a situation that should have been impossible.

After hours of interrogation, Arata was finally released, given a forced leave. Still, he knew there was no rest for a veteran haunted by bad memories. His steps felt heavy, as if he was carrying the weight of the caskets he had just left behind.

Outside the base gate, the cold evening air felt sharp. There, a girl stood smiling brightly, her long black hair swaying gently. It was his younger sister, Koyomi.

"Onii-chan!" she called out cheerfully.

But the smile on Koyomi's face faded as she saw the empty look in her brother's eyes. She didn't say a word. She gently took his stiff hand. That warm grip was the only thing that reminded Arata that he was still alive, that he had returned from hell.

Yet, Arata knew that the real hell might have just begun.