I met her again

The next day, at 4:00 in the morning, the bugle signaling the trainee soldiers' wake-up call echoed through the surroundings. Among them was Yuriy, who hadn't heard it due to the exhaustion from the eventful previous day.

Suddenly, an officer entered his room without any warning, his voice booming, "Yuriy Kozlov, wake up! It's time for your first real military training." Yuriy snapped awake in shock and immediately responded, "Yes, sir!" But then he processed the situation further, saying, "Wait a moment, did you say military training? I'm in the Technological Combat Division, aren't I?" The officer retorted with frustration, "What nonsense are you spouting? You won't be controlling those mechs unless you become a proper soldier who understands military engagements. What will you do if someone attacked the control center of the receivers? Wait for soldiers to come and defend you? Of course not. Everyone in this facility should be capable of self-defense."

"Alright, no way around it," Yuriy mumbled as he stood up with difficulty. He proceeded to wash his face, attempting to rid it of the remnants of sleep, a task that proved challenging. He was definitely not accustomed to waking up at such an early hour of the day. He donned a military uniform designated for training sessions – green pants and a sleeveless undershirt – along with oversized boots. Yuriy stepped out of his room to meet Vasyl and Vladyslav. With a calm voice and his usual smile, Vladyslav greeted, "Morning, Yuriy." Yuriy responded in a tone that betrayed his unexpected situation, "Oh, comrades, are you also participating in the training?" Vasyl replied enthusiastically, "Of course! Everyone here is obliged to undergo the training. Come on, let's head to the back courtyard of the facility quickly. I don't want to be punished again." Yuriy questioned with puzzlement, "Did you say ‘punished again?"

The three quickly exited the residential quarters for the young soldiers, making their way directly to the facility's back courtyard. Yuriy was taken aback by the immense number of trainees, both male and female, who had all assembled for the same type of training. As everyone lined up in formations on the facility's rear courtyard, the supervisor of soldier training emerged, his expression stern as he ascended the platform. He shouted, "Get ready!" The trainees heard the command and understood what was expected – to stand in disciplined positions. Then he shouted, "At ease," causing everyone to relax. Yuriy didn't fully grasp the exact meaning, but he followed suit as everyone else did.

The officer then began his address, "Brave soldiers, half of this nation has been seized by the enemy. Will we, the soldiers of this homeland, tolerate that?"

A resounding "No!" echoed from the crowd, except for Yuriy, who was taken aback by the sudden collective shout and looked around in alarm.

The officer continued his speech, saying, "Yes, this is the natural reaction of someone whose homeland has been taken from them. This beloved nation that was stripped away from us, despite our pleas to an enemy who showed us no mercy. An enemy that turned a deaf ear to the cries of our mothers as they wept for their children, leaving our young ones orphaned. Most of us were forced to flee to lands where there is no refuge. So, soldiers of the homeland, continue your fight with all the courage you possess, for there is no other solution for you. Indeed, anyone belonging to the neighboring nation is deemed an enemy."

The trainee soldiers shouted with determination, their resolve and efforts aimed at bringing about change and persevering in their quest to rid themselves of the enemy. Not only that, but also harboring enmity towards anyone aligned with the opposing side. There was no room for denying the officer's words, which resonated with their keen sense of what was transpiring around them. Only one person displayed a hint of doubt, uncertain about the officer's words. He tightened his grip on his fist, his expression serious, choosing silence over speech to avoid drawing attention. This person was none other than Yuriy.

The officer stared at Yuriy for a moment before shouting, "Yuriy Kozlov, do you have something to say?" Yuriy crafted a face that held a hint of sadness and replied, "The truth is..." Gathering some courage and determination, he overcame his hesitation and continued, "Isn't there any way to win this war without resorting to such means? Like killing others to subdue them? If the enemy is corrupt, should we become like them?"

A brief silence fell over the place. After a moment, all the soldiers burst into laughter at Yuriy's naive intervention, deeming his words utterly foolish. In fact, one of them even doubted Yuriy's mental sanity when he muttered, "Is this really the professional player who will be responsible for using new technology?" The arrogance of that soldier grew, unaffected by the piercing glares from Vasyl and Vladyslav, only ceasing his speech out of fear.

Yuriy's determination remained unshaken. He continued, "What betrayal are you referring to? Those I mention never saw me as an enemy; on the contrary. They were instrumental in my ascent to the highest ranks of the game. They've been my pillars, helping me reach the top rank, and supporting my transformation into a professional, which set me on my path as a streamer to ensure a better life for my mother. Moreover, let's not forget that I'm here among you, adeptly operating that enigmatic device, thanks to them. In fact, I challenge anyone here to outdo me in that regard."

A hushed silence fell over the group, and dangerous whispers and words began to circulate among the soldiers' lips. The officer put a stop to it with his accustomed shout, and then continued his conversation with Yuriy, saying, "Yuriy Kozlov, your behavior won't be tolerated here, even if you're new. You are being punished for insubordination to your superior. I don't care about the logic of your words, nor whether you're right or wrong. What matters is that we will suppress the emotion in you until you become a soldier capable of serving your country as required. And now, start running around the center square until you lose the feeling in your legs."

"What! This isn't fair..." Yuriy protested, but Vladyslav and Vasyl quickly pulled him to the back of the square, fearing a harsher punishment. They calmed him down and explained the situation thoroughly, "Listen, Yuriy, it won't be in your favor to act this way. Trust me, this person is adept at tormenting soldiers, and running around the square is a minor punishment compared to what he's capable of."

Yuriy yanked his arm forcefully, breaking free from Vasyl's strong grip. He was a determined individual, unwavering in his stance, and had no intention of altering his perspective. He asserted, "I don't care. I'm not obligated to change a viewpoint I find logical. Not everyone who belongs to the enemy's land is corrupt."

Yuriy began running around the center square without stopping, just as ordered. The expressions he wore on his face seemed to convey, 'I won't be broken by this easy punishment. I'll make that arrogant officer appear foolish with his ineffective discipline.'

He persisted in his defiance, clinging to his principles. After all, he had made many friends from all around the world, including those from the neighboring nation. He had built strong relationships with them and they had helped him through challenging phases of his life when no one else could – not his former neighbors nor even the military itself. It was only natural for Yuriy to acknowledge those who had assisted him when he needed a helping hand.

After hours of relentless running, the training had gone on even beyond midday. Yuriy continued to run with immense pride, perplexing the officer who couldn't help but wonder about his persistence. He questioned to himself, "Why all this stubbornness?" As the sun began to set, the officer gave up on observing these repeated antics. He didn't say a word; he simply left the scene, already feeling dismay over this new recruit. He felt he would be a pain in the butt.

Yuriy noticed the officer's departure and, with steps that nearly caused him to collapse, he declared victory in his silent challenge against the officer. "I did it..." Yuriy whispered, disappearing into a brief moment of silence. He fell to the ground, a smile playing on his lips. As consciousness slowly slipped away from him, he became aware of approaching footsteps. With great effort, he managed to lift his head, only to succumb to overwhelming exhaustion.

After a brief period, Yuriy struggled to open his eyes, awakening from his faint. He found himself gazing at the face of the girl standing close by, her blue eyes reminiscent of the sky's beauty. Her golden hair resembled strands of sunlit gold, and her thick eyebrows added a unique flair to her countenance. It was the same girl he had encountered near the male soldiers' dormitory.