World War Zero『WWX』

One step closer

"That's all? Tsk!" I thought, as I slightly clenched my fists.

Oh! I forgot to ask whether i was in the top five thousand, arrgghh! What a drag!

It was now evening, the weather was cool, and the atmosphere was dull and boring, as I kept staring at the ceiling till I slept off.

I rolled from Left to right, then after few seconds of rolling, I woke up.

"Is it morning already?" I muttered to myself as I stretched my body. I was now feeling healthier and comfortable than yesterday.

I got up from the bed, then walked towards the mini bathroom.

"It's nice to be well treated." I thought.

After I entered, I brushed my teeth, then took my bath. As I was drying up my body, I stared at the mirror. My (thin) moustache was already getting evident, it made me look more matured and handsome but, I didn't like it that much. Although I barely had beards, but I felt they were way cooler than moustaches, soo......

I shaved the moustache off.

As I finished shaving the poor moustache, I washed my face with soap and water. While doing that, the incident with the bane flashed through my mind.

"A zodiac." I whispered, "I pray I remember that."

I had no clue of what a zodiac was, or what they looked like. All I knew is that the next time I meet that bane, It won't be the same outcome.

I gnashed my teeth with anger as I was now clenching my fists in anger.

I calmed myself down as I walked out of the mini bathroom, then I sat on the bed, while resting my jaws on both palms, as my elbows were standing on my laps. Just then, the door of my room was swung open.

Sh*t, I'm still on towel. Damn it!

There was no time to run back into the bathroom.

It's........... General Hinata?

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Immediately she entered the room, my face got completely red. It's been long since a female stormed into my room; it was my mum that did it last time when I was still young, in which I yelled for privacy, she laughed and told me I haven't reached the stage of privacy yet. It was so embarrassing as I was only wearing a towel, and the same thing is happening now. Thankfully, I took a long towel that covered from my armpits, all the way to my ankles.

"Some privacy!" I said bravely but, deep down I was embarrassed.

"C'mon, privacy? At least you still have a towel on you." She said, with a chuckle following thereafter.

I now stared at the ground with uttermost embarrassment.

"I came here to inform you that your second wave of trial, is today." She said, as she closed the door.

"Today? But I just recovered.

Oh the army waits for no man, what a pain! Aren't they gonna give us a break?" I asked.

"Yeah! They've given you the break you needed already, which was yesterday stroke this morning." She said, as she moves closer.

I turned my face away from hers, as I was still red and embarrassed.

"What of those that haven't recovered yet?" I asked.

"Then they'll try another year, that's if they're not in the top five thousand." She replied almost immediately.

Another.......Year? Isn't that......

"You see," She resumes. "The army isn't for the faint hearted, we are well aware of the conditions of some people, so we'll give them some advantages over others the next time they try." She said to ease my tension.

"Oh!" I said in response to her words. "Yeah! I've been wanting to ask, did I make it to the top five thousand?"

"Why do you want to know?" She asked.

"Well, just t...to confirm." I replied.

"Then, Wait till it's announced." She said.

"It's okay, if i didn't make it just tell m..."

"Oh! Don't put words in my mouth, you'll find out soon. That's why you need to dress up and get there quickly, they'll start announcing anytime from now." She interrupted, as she rubbed my head gently with her hand, before exiting the room.

"Who are you treating as a kid?" muttered with a flushed face, as she went out of the room.

Now my hair was scattered,

She just behaves like my late mum, I'm not a kid anymore, I'm eighteen years of age now.

Oh! I better get dressed, I need to get there ASAP! (as soon as possible).

Wait! She didn't tell me the location, crap! I'm gonna be late for sure.

As I stood up from the bed I froze on a spot,

I just remembered the past again, my mum getting gunned down in my front, my blood began to boil with hatred, heart pumping, teeth screeching, the anger I felt was more than enough reason to kill. Why I'm I here in the army?

T/n: In this trance scene above, only the silhouette of a female falling to the floor after she was shot could be seen by Fushi. The female being his mum was an assumption of Fushi, since he had heard that they were murdered by a group of unknown bandits, after he woke up few days after the tragic encounter.

As I was dressing, I tried recollecting my mum's face but to no avail. All I could remember was few of her characteristics, and the silhouette of her. As I put on my shoes, I bit my lips in frustration.

***

I've been running aimlessly for thirty minutes now, and I was still unaware of where the announcements would be made, I'm in big trouble for sure.

I saw an old man walking towards my direction, so I walked near him and asked.

"Do you know where the announcement of people that passed the practicals, is taking place sir?"

"Umm....." The old man thought so hard and said, "Just keep moving towards the south, and you'll find them I think."

"Yeah thanks!" I said to him.

But what the hell is an old man doing here?

"Hope no problems." I asked the old man.

"This is the route to my farm, so no need to worry." He said boldly.

"Okay then, see ya later gramps." I said as I ran towards the direction which he told me to.

As I jogged further, I could now hear cheers and loud screams of different people.

"He was right! I owe you one old man." I said to myself as I got to the scene.

"Five thousand!, five thousand! I said five thousand!"

That shout is familiar, it's the warrant officer!

He turns, then whispered to the lady beside him.

"Check who's no.five thousand." He said

The lady can be seen opening the pages of the book in a quick manner.

They were on a tall building that had a great width.

"Five thousand!" He continues to shout the number, but no one seemed to be stepping forward, everyone started to look around, confirming their numbers.

As I was staring at the warrant officer, I rolled my eyes sideways and General Hinata eyes met with mine, she gave a stern look at first but, a smile followed thereafter.

I didn't know why she was smiling but, it was definitely telling me to move forward.

As I stepped forward, I moved back almost immediately.

There were a lot of people standing here like me also apart from the four thousand,

nine hundred, and ninety-nine qualified soldiers that'll choose where they'll serve in the Army.

Suddenly from afar, I saw Shinsui standing upfront.

"So he made it also?" I thought, before I looked away. Almost immediately, my eyes strayed back to his direction.

"He's silently conveying something to me." I thought.

"His name is...........".

The lady whispered to the warrant officer.

"Kazumino Fujishimo!" He shouted

"Oh! the general's son!" The lady whispered to the warrant officer. "Well, he's quite handsome if you ask me." She said.

"I didn't ask you that, I only care about his name. How did you even have a full look of him from here?" He asked.

"Hmph! You're out of taste." She spoke him with a pouted lip.

But seriously, the warrant officer was right, she was jumping to conclusions, without having a full view of me. However, the conversation was only heard by both of them and no one else.

As I walked forward, I was anxious at first but now, I felt bold and even walked like a boss, as people clapped, and different comments where tossed from different sections.

"He's quite proud!" The warrant officer says.

"Whatevs!" The lady responds tersely.

"Silence!" The warrant officer cried, "These people over here," *H pointed to our side. "Are the top five thousand."

My heart skipped a beat when he pointed at us, then resumed it's proper beat rate after hearing we were the top guns.

That was close!

"The top ten step forward". He commands, in which ten people walked upfront flamboyantly.

We were now divided into three groups now;

First row, the top ten.

Second row, top five thousand/4990/

Third row, the remaining people that passed also(5001 and above).

The general of the army, Tite Minamino walks to the podium/stage.

"Ohhhhhhhh!" Everyone echoed as they bowed, while the lady and warrant officer lowered their head in respect.

"I congratulate all the people that passed the practicals, and as for those who didn't, they did good also.

Although, they've been sent home, and those that are still under treatment will stay, till they're in a good condition then, they'll go home." Minamino said.

"So, the top ten, after this meeting follow the warrant officer, he'll tell you what to do. You've passed the test, you're now a soldier, and not just an ordinary one, the ten of you are going to be rewarded with the lowest rank an ordinary man would dream to have, you're now ranked as a private second class. Welcome!" General Minamino announced calmly.

I expected this to happen because, I've been informed by Shinsui when we met in the namizagi but, others seemed to be dissatisfied as they murmured. At least I'm one step closer to joining the military.

"Keep quiet when the general of the army is in your presence!" Clark the warrant officer, stated.

"You worry to much! General Tite said.

"I'm sorry sir!" He apologised.

"They deserved it, they're the only ones who managed to configure and pass the tests before it started, so if you have any complaints, step forward." Minamino said.

No one dared to step forward, not to even think of complaining. Everyone just held their peace.

"Now to the top five thousand!"

He said audibly.