Among Uncharted Seas

Deserting wasn’t even an option in the underground military base. Security guards stood by every corner, keeping track of everyone’s moves. CCTV cameras watched every part of the base, covering all areas. No leniency and no blind spot. How could one dare to desert?

On the other hand, the capital city of Japanova—Kyota—wasn’t as strict. The soldiers could earn days off if they met the requirements. Once they took their leave and left the military base, they were unmonitored. This opened up an opportunity to desert. They could choose not to return after their holidays ended. That’s when the Military Police started to work.

I couldn’t believe that I would become everyone’s enemy from this point. It wasn’t like I had a lot of friends to begin with, so there should be no problem. Even so, this smelled trouble. Hideo and his group already hated me for no reason whatsoever. Now that I gave them one, it would only get messier. I just wanted a peaceful time serving in the military.

It’s impossible now, huh?

Enma brought me to the newly opened cafe in town for some fancy breakfast, saying that I should at least feel the air of the outside world before locking myself up in the military base. She phrased it as if I wouldn’t get to leave for a very long time. What a petty lie to scare me. To chase after Drifters, I needed to actually step out of the base and track them.

“Order whatever you like. I’ll pay. You won’t get to eat these kinds of food in the base for quite a while.”

There she goes again. But who am I to turn down free food?

Wynn Cafe’s interior design was all white with some elaborate metallic acrylic lines and curves on every surface. Cleaning this place must be a hell of a chore. The tables were made of glasses and each one had a switch that could turn the surface into a menu screen for ordering. I hit the switch and chose the most expensive food on the menu, which was lobster mac and cheese. Enma ordered smoked oyster spaghetti—the second most expensive food. Looking at how she also splurged on breakfast, she must have planned to bill the expense to the military base. Soldiers didn’t earn that much.

I’d better not let my guard down around her.

“So, why did you join the army?” I asked, initiating a small talk while we were having our lavish breakfast.

“Look around you. Bluefort does everything better than us. Do you think I have a choice?”

I couldn’t find any human employees in this cafe. Enma had a point. “Understandable. Bluefort also stole my youth by dumping me into that hellhole.”

“At least Kuma is cute. That's one thing I can accept.” Enma waved at Kuma outside the cafe through the glass window. He nodded his head once, unlike any normal dog’s behavior.

It’s time to ask the real question. “What are we doing here exactly?”

Enma smirked in approval, slamming her cold brew coffee glass on the table. “You finally caught on. Drifters are high-speed brats. You need to step up your game, kid.” Before I could retort, she added, “One of the Drifters mentioned this cafe. It’s his favorite place.”

I observed the establishment. Half of the tables were occupied this early in the morning. It seemed popular among young people. “Do you think he would come?”

She frowned, the approval look leaving her features. “Do you think he would? Walk around here in the open? While Captors are hunting him down?”

“Of course not. I’m trying to figure out why we are here now.”

“We are learning about him as a person. You can know someone better by going to the place he frequents and meeting the people who recognize him. Everything we learn will lead back to him.”

“Such as?” I challenged her.

“Look at your 2 o’clock. Those boys have been stealing glances at us. Can you guess why?”

“Either they are fascinated that they find soldiers here, or—” I took a glance at their table, noticing their furrowed brows and hushed conversations, “—someone they know is a Drifter.”

“Nice guess. We can’t completely rule out that possibility.” Her fork clanged loudly when she dropped it on her now empty plate. She gulped down her coffee, letting out a satisfied hum as her glass thumped against the table. Is she always this… noisy?

“Would they answer if you ask them, though?”

“We’re not questioning them now. Not in this getup. Are you stupid?” Enma shook her head in disbelief. “We will come back later in disguise. At least now we know what they look like.”

With how rowdy she was, I wasn’t sure she could keep herself from blowing her disguise.

“If I’m stupid then why did you pick me?” I grumbled irritatedly. I didn’t choose to be a Drifter Captor. It wasn’t my fault if I had no idea what to do.

She snorted. “If I could choose my own subordinate, why would I choose you? I’d rather have some good-looking boy join me. You’re too pretty for my taste.”

I regretted asking that question.

After asking Kuma to record the three suspicious boys, we left Wynn Cafe with a mental note to visit it again later and headed straight to the military base. A five-minute walk later, we reached the front gate of the place that people said was harsher than a prison. I sighed at the grim view. Giving me a taste of the outside world made me long for it more. This was cruel.

Enma nudged my hand with her elbow. “Why the long face? Do you have a place you want to visit? I can make up an excuse for you and buy you some time.”

Yuna. I quickly shook the thought away from my mind. A year had passed since the last time I had any contact with her.

“No. Let’s just go inside,” I said, although my gaze longingly went in the direction where her house was. After my parents had passed away twelve years ago, Yuna’s family had brought me in to live in their house. A lot of things could change in a year. They could have moved out.

Later. I’ll visit her when I get my leave, I promised myself as I walked into the front gate together with my new superior.

“It’s still too early for the morning briefing. You can go rest in the barracks first. Get to know your roommate. I’ll contact you later when it’s time,” Enma informed, pointing in the direction of the barracks.

“I have a roommate?” This came to me as a surprise. I used to have a private room back in the underground military base. Privacy was an important thing. Now I couldn’t even have that?

“Oh, I haven’t told you yet? Drifter Captors work in pairs. Your roommate is going to be your partner. Be nice to him.” She patted my back and walked the opposite way.

I could already tell that this wouldn’t go well. Teamwork wasn’t my strongest suit. But when I found my room in the barracks and saw the other name alongside mine, I knew for sure this would take a turn for the worse.

Yaku Hideo. The person who kept trying to make my life a living hell. Hideo was my new roommate and partner.

What a great coincidence.