There wasn’t much time until the camp began, and that time had gone by at a rapid pace, as we’d held meeting after meeting. All because my summer break was short. The planning stage had overlapped with the exam period before summer vacation, which had honestly been exhausting. Toriko was already on break. Oh, how I resented her. I don’t even know how many times I ground my teeth when I saw her in the window of our video call, dressed casually and eating ice cream. Yet every time she was on a call, she’d done her makeup, and was wearing a different outfit. I was like, What’s with her?
Somehow, I got through all of it, and made it to my own belated summer break. There was no time to relax, though, because it was off to camp on the very first day. I headed out with my stuff, then traveled through the city of Tokyo—which, even in the morning, was already so hot and humid that I felt like I was swimming—and arrived in Tameike-Sannou. When I reached the underground parking lot of the DS Research building, there were more people than I’d ever seen down there before.
“Good morniiing...”
“Good morning, Kamikoshi-san. I look forward to working with you today.”
Migiwa, who was polite as always, had taken off his jacket, and wore a gray T-shirt and cargo pants as he busily worked to prepare for departure. It was my first time seeing him in anything other than a suit; the Mayan tattoos that densely covered both his arms were now on full display. Normally, that would have made him stand out like a sore thumb, but not today. There were more than ten operators from Torchlight in the parking lot, and pretty much all of them had a tattoo somewhere.
“Morning, Sorawo,” Toriko said, pushing her way through the crowd as she approached. She’d taken off her jacket and wrapped it around her waist. The two of us went and set our stuff down at the foot of a pillar that was a short distance from the crowd.
“They’ve all got incredible tattoos, huh?” Toriko said as she looked all around. I guess the same thing caught both of our attention.
“Yeah, they’re pretty amazing. Do you think soldiers are all like this?”
“Could be, for a lot of them. Mama had some tattoos too.”
“Maybe it’s a cultural thing.”
“That’s part of it, and I hear some people get them so that their body can be identified even if they get blown to bits on the battlefield.”
“Blown to bits...”
As I shuddered at this incredible reason I would never have imagined, Toriko moved her face close to me.
“You want to get some too?”
“You brought that up before.”
“It’s super common to get tattoos in Canada, so I don’t really have anything against it. Do you dislike them, Sorawo?”
“They do leave a bad impression on people here in Japan. And it sounds painful.”
“Maybe a tiny one would be okay?”
“If you don’t have anything against getting one, why haven’t you, Toriko?”
“Family policy. Mom said I couldn’t until I was an adult. Because I might regret it later.”
“Makes sense.”
“So, how about it?”
“Hmm... I’ll put it off for now.”
“Putting it off, huh?”
Toriko sounded disappointed, so I added, “I tried imagining myself with a tattoo, and it just doesn’t feel right. It’s too far removed from how I envision myself.”
“Really? I think it’d be cute, though.”
“Besides...if I get one, you’ll get one too, right?” I asked.
“Yeah.”
“I dunno if I want a tattoo on your pretty skin. Even though I’m sure it’d look great and all.”
“Could...!”
Toriko nearly shouted out loud, but then drew her lips taut, took a deep breath to calm herself down, and then quietly said, “Could you save that kind of comment for when it’s just the two of us?!”
“Why?”
“This is the problem with you Sorawo.”
I had no idea what she was mad about. Ignoring my confusion, Toriko began fanning herself with her hand.
Well, no... Maybe I kind of did get it. I think Toriko was taking my words in a more intimate way than I’d intended them.
Don’t just come up with things on your own, then get all flustered. Try to be serious here.
The elevator opened, and Runa and Tsuji came out.
“Morning, you two.”
I didn’t expect her to greet us as a set.
“You had exams yesterday, right?” she asked. “Must have been tough.”
“Nah, the exams ended the day before yesterday. I had a supplementary lecture...” I explained.
“A supplementary lecture! I like it. Oh, to be so young again. That’s university life for you.”
“Kamikoshi-san. Don’t you think Tsuji-san talks like an old man?” Runa grumbled.
“Really? Y’know, I get that all the time.”
“So maybe she really is one. I don’t want to live with an old man.”
“I’m so glad I get to live with Runa-chan!”
“Save me. I’m pretty sure this counts as some kind of harassment.”
Despite her snark, Runa seemed so much more full of life than the last time I’d seen her. Since she had no friends, maybe she’d needed someone she could complain to without holding anything back. Although, that was probably a too-convenient explanation for it. I didn’t know if Tsuji was doing it intentionally, and I had a feeling that she hadn’t put that much thought into it.
One thing I could say was that I wasn’t up to providing the kind of close relationship that Runa was looking for. Toriko didn’t trust her, and then there was Kozakura, who she had nearly brainwashed. Thinking about it that way, I did feel sorry for her.
Am I being a softie?
Whatever the case, she was going to need to regain her humanity with the help of Tsuji’s annoying behavior. I sure was glad I wasn’t Runa.
“Good morning, Kamikoshi-san!”
The next to come over and greet me was President Sasazuka of Torchlight. I was bewildered by the way they all took turns coming to see me... But, no, it wasn’t time for bewilderment. Maybe I should have gone and greeted them on my own? Why had I been just standing here in a daze ever since I arrived?
As I was being confronted with my lack of social skills first thing in the morning, Sasazuka spoke to me in a crisp tone of voice. “Thank you for coming when you are so busy. Let me express once again, we look forward to working with you today!”
“Oh, sure. Nice to be working with you too.”
I felt a little overwhelmed by the energy of an athletically inclined person, but managed to bow my head in response.
“Is everyone ready...?”
“Yes, we’re all ready to go. You can open the gate whenever you would like!”
“Got it.”
There were sixteen operators from Torchlight, Sasazuka included. Migiwa, Tsuji. Runa, as well as Toriko and I brought the total to twenty-one.
Once the order to go was given, trucks and vans filled with construction materials turned on. Everyone but the drivers went on foot. Standing at the front of the line, Toriko and I stepped forward. The spot where we would open the gate was marked on the floor of the parking lot.
“All right, I’m gonna open it.”
“Okay, go ahead.”
Toriko reached out with her left hand and grabbed the air. I saw the silver haze twisting in my right field of vision. Toriko swung her hand to the side and the gate opened like a curtain. The slight wind that arose stirred her hair as it blew into the gate.
There was much oohing from behind us. Many of them had seen it already, but this wasn’t the sort of thing that was easy to get used to. Even I felt a fresh sense of surprise each time I saw it.
“Head out!”
On Sasazuka’s command, the operators moved into action. As we watched the procession of soldiers carrying large packs vanish into the silver mist, it brought to mind memories of a story I read long ago. I think it was during the First World War. There was a unit from some country or other marching through the foggy hills when they vanished... I think I must have learned about it when studying ghost stories about going to another world.