Chapter Text
The medical tent reeked of iron and chemicals as lanterns emitted a soft, fragile light that could disappear in an instant. Sugimoto loitered around the area as medics filed into tents with injured soldiers.
Before he could turn around, shouts erupted in the distance. Footsteps rushed towards the sound as Sugimoto peered out the tent slit. There, medical staff crowded around the person. Then he noticed it. The rising sun flag. Yuusaku? Sugimoto was pulled over as the medical staff rushed Yuusaku into the tent.
It wasn’t surprising. He was the flag bearer after all. To give up one’s own life so readily for the sake of others, Sugimoto never understood why someone would become a flag bearer. Did he even want to become a flag bearer in the first place?
Soldiers rushed towards Yuusaku. Some begged for him to wake up. Some screamed to the gods about why they’d let someone so noble die in battle. Some clasped their hands together and prayed for his safe return. It all seemed so futile.
Yuusaku’s chest contorted from sharp, abrupt breaths to long, drawn out heaves. A part of him wanted to approach him, to feel his pulsing body, to make sure he was still alive. He knew he shouldn’t care for the man. He was meant to let go of him by now. Yet, his lingering curiosity compelled him to stay by his side. He wanted to know what he truly felt about his role as a flag bearer.
The loud shouts suddenly dropped into whispers as the soldiers who crowded around Yuusaku halted their movements. Sugimoto could only question what the sudden silence was all about.
It was until Yuusaku’s weak, but alive voice resounded through the tent. Sugimoto felt his mouth go agape. It was sure that he’d die. Glancing at Yuusaku once more, eyes seemed so dim of the light that inspired hope in others. It almost reached out to him as a plea.
Sugimoto wanted to go to Yuusaku, but stopped himself. He was supposed to forget him. He glimpsed at Yuusaku once more. His eyes were now shut and his breathing stabilized into a lull. He dreaded watching him continue to fight for his life—but at this moment, it simply wasn’t possible for anyone to determine whether or not he would see the next day.
As turned to leave, he noticed a man in the distance. His cape was as white as snow and it flowed gently through the winter air. He stared at the horizon with a shot gun in hand. But before he could get a closer look, the man disappeared as if he was never there, leaving Sugimoto by himself once again.