Story

All of the stories in Punishing: Gray Raven, for your reading pleasure. Will contain all the stories that can be found in the archive in-game, together with all affection stories.

27-5 Before the Outbreak

You rascals, better not disgrace me in your new units!

I can't... can't breathe...

Bruce, move over a bit.

You're asking for the impossible.

Damn... can't push him away. How strong is this guy exactly?

I stopped struggling a while ago.

On the training ground, Backhaus wraps his muscular arms around the five of them, hugging them tightly.

Five heads of different colors are squeezed together like the folds on a bun, each showing varying degrees of pain.

Today marks the last day of training for Watanabe and his team. Their year-long training at the camp has come to an end, and it's time for everyone to part ways.

Alright, for this memorable last day, I'm heading to HQ to get you all something special!

Just before Albert passes out, Backhaus lets go of his arm and vanishes in a flash.

Huff... Huff... I thought I was gonna die.

Here, have some mint tea.

Thank you...

Albert accepts the canteen from Garzah, while Bruce pats his back to help him catch his breath.

With that green hair, you might have a hard time catching the eye of those rich folks. It's not too late to switch careers.

Coates sounds harsh but sincere.

No, like you and Bruce, I'm preparing to join the Ground Force.

The regular army is a hundred times tougher than the mercenaries, plus there's the elimination process.

I'm serious.

But you're just barely getting by the way you are.

Gurgle...

Albert takes a big gulp of mint tea and lets out a deep breath.

Backhaus is quite the maverick and places a strong emphasis on how we do on the physical tests...

When most of the regular army cares more about whether we know how to operate the military functional armor.

With it, they all turn to look at the warehouse where the functional armor is stored. A thin layer of sand has accumulated in front of the door, a sign that it hasn't been opened for quite some time.

Actually, it's Backhaus who gave me this piece of advice.

He's not exactly a big fan of functional armor, but he gave me this piece of advice anyway when he noticed how tough my neural resilience is.

I know how much I suck, but Backhaus never gave up on me... and even made life easier for me.

You guys better not tell him what I just said, because he made it clear that he didn't want me to bring up the special treatment to anyone.

...

Why are y'all lookin' at me like that?

He told you too?

Uhh... I take it that he said the same thing to you guys, too?

Was it just two days ago?

Yup, verbatim.

Wait...

Watanabe places a hand on Albert's shoulder and says earnestly.

Greenhead, Backhaus doesn't dole out special treatment to just anyone.

He only does it with his subordinates.

He suggested I apply for the Navy.

Garzah speaks in a muffled voice, before adding a remark.

Interesting how he thought I could live out at the sea when he's only seen me living in this desert.

His advice to me was similar.

Two days ago, he approached me and asked if I wanted to try applying for the Air Force.

He said there's generally no chance of seeing blood, except I think that statement is probably only half true.

Bruce, what about you?

...

Bruce hesitates for a few seconds before he speaks.

He said I'd fare just fine going anywhere except for the Air Force.

Bruce breaks into a wry smile.

Bruce...

With it, the air seems to grow heavy, because they all know how badly Bruce wants to get into the Air Force.

Only Bruce himself and Coates, however, know what's driving Bruce's obsession.

A piece of advice is nothing more than a piece of advice, though. Nobody says you need to do as told.

You have to walk your own path.

What Backhaus said makes a lot of sense, though. I'll give it some serious thought.

I'll go pack my things first.

After Bruce leaves, the remaining three turn to look at Coates.

Don't look at me like that. There are some things I can't explain.

Ask Bruce yourselves if you're that curious.

...

How did you know I was here?

Hearing footsteps behind him, Bruce asks without turning around.

There aren't many places around here for sightseeing, so it wasn't hard to find you.

Oh, and Coates saw you heading this way, of course.

I see you picked up Backhaus' sense of humor there.

Well, he's not back yet and can't hear us. So, did you find it funny?

The fact that you tried to tell a joke is more amusing.

Then I won't tell any more jokes going forward.

Watanabe sits down next to Bruce and hands him another canteen.

Here, Garzah's mint tea.

I'll have to thank him when we get back.

Bruce opens the canteen, and the rising steam carries the fresh scent of mint into the night sky.

You're welcome.

Garzah told me to say that because he knew you'd thank him.

...Guess I did ruin the fun for you guys back there, huh.

Bruce smiles self-deprecatingly.

Yeah, Greenhead thinks it's all because he started it, and he feels too guilty to come find you.

I really tried to talk him out of it.

So, Watanabe, why did you come here?

Bruce sets down the canteen and looks up at the sky.

I'm just here to give you the tea. Whether I stay or not is up to you.

Then let me tell you a story. I have this friend who...

...

Silence falls over the conversation.

You know what, forget it. At this point, there's no need to hide anything.

Bruce looks embarrassed, which is really uncommon.

Watanabe, would you find someone a coward for taking the same path their parents did?

...

What was the belief that Mom left behind? Out of so many people in the world, why did it have to be her?

I think you, Dad, understand Mom of all people, and I trust that you can answer that question.

But I think this wall of experience will always stand between us no matter how hard you try to explain it to me.

Which is why I figured that if I became a soldier, even just a mercenary, I'd come closer to understanding Mom.

I think there's no right or wrong in pursuing something. It's just a process, not the end goal.

...Have you heard of this story where there is a bunch of monkeys trying to scoop up the moon from the water?

You mean the story where the monkeys form a ladder up a tree with their bodies and try to scoop the moon's reflection out of the water?

Whether it was seven or eight monkeys, whether it was a well or a puddle, I can't remember.

I don't remember if there are seven or eight, but the point is that they end up with nothing.

And it makes sense that those monkeys end up with nothing when they never have what it takes to get to the real moon.

Do you think you are one of those monkeys?

Well, I suppose you know what this "moon" I'm chasing is, right?

I'm trying to go down the same path my dad went down.

He was an ace pilot. I've admired him since I was a child and aspired to be like him.

I'm not one of those kids who think they just have to do something to outshine their dads because they think their dads are such hotshots. I mean, I do want to be greater than my dad, too, but it's just because I want to be great.

He told me what it feels like to soar through the sky, and I want to get a taste of what that feels like, too. I want to make him proud.

But you know I don't have the talent. No matter how much I train, I've never gotten my sense of balance up to snuff.

And it dawned on me quite a while ago that I just didn't have what it takes, when my dad stopped teaching me maneuvers and techniques so I wouldn't get overstressed.

So I kept asking myself if he'd given up on me, and if I should just give up.

He reaches out his hand, as if trying to grasp the bright moon in the sky.

But I guess it's all starting to make sense now.

Why am I wasting time trying to scoop up the moon from the water when I know it's mission impossible?

The two fall silent, taking their time to digest those words.

They might have come from different backgrounds, but right at this moment, they find themselves in such similar circumstances.

One of them tries to go down the same path his father did, knowing full well that he doesn't have the talent it takes.

While the other tries to understand his mother's will, which he finds difficult living in a world so peaceful.

Could it be that Bruce is right... for thinking that they're going nowhere?

Even if you've resolved to move past your wounds, never forget they existed and that you're doing this to move toward the future.

Watanabe suddenly recalls what his father said on his birthday.

He didn't quite understand what his father meant then, but seeing Bruce struggling now, Watanabe seems to have reached an eureka moment all of a sudden.

He looks at the moon in the sky. No matter where you are, it always shines equally into the eyes of those who gaze upon it.

Well, can't really say you don't have a point there.

Boy, you honest son of a...

But I don't think you're wrong for wanting to go down that path.

For wanting to pursue that light, that is.

Watanabe strings his thoughts into words, trying to get his message across.

We chase the moon in the water because it is beautiful in itself. There is nothing wrong with wanting to get closer to it.

That sounds like what someone would say to themselves when they just don't have what it takes to get what they want.

Well...

He raises his fist, as if capturing the moon in the sky.

I don't think you need to have an end goal in sight when you try to pursue the moon.

As his fist opens, the moonlight, which he was blocking with his hand, shines into his eyes through his fingers.

It'll always be there, whether you try to pursue it or not.

Never lost, never hidden, and always shining.

If the moon in the water is a reflection of its light, that means this light that shines upon us now is the very same moonlight, no?

As long as you don't turn away and walk into the darkness...

Then no matter what we do, we'll always be in its light.

Watanabe finally sees that his mother has left behind more than just epitaphs and deeds. In the cemetery where she rests in peace, her steadfast belief echoes through.

And when Watanabe overcame his fears and chose to join the military, that belief was passed down.

He now sees that he doesn't need to be in his mother's shoes to understand her, nor does he need to arrive at the same end she did—so long as he keeps his head straight and keeps heading down the same path.

...You're only saying these things because you've owned up to the failure that you were.

It's just hard to let something go... when you've become too invested in it.

I really need to learn from you as far as that goes...

He closes his eyes and remains silent for a moment, struggling internally.

But I'll give it a try. I'll start by talking to my father again.

Thank you, Watanabe.

Was gonna say the same.

They exchange glances and raise their canteens.

Cheers!

Cough...

They choke on the hot water in their canteens.

Let's go. The ignition ceremony of the Zero-point Reactor is taking place today.

I don't really know what it's all about, but people have all gathered around the big screen. Let's go and join the fun.

30 seconds until ignition of Zero-point Reactor One.

A bit higher. Yes, just like that.

That's it. Any higher and I'll hit the ceiling.

(Can't bear to watch)

Alright, stop micromanaging. See, the poor "Tall Guy" doesn't know what to say now because of you.

Say that again after you get off his left arm!

In the cafeteria of the International Space Station, a huge projection screen is live-streaming the first ignition of Zero-point Reactor.

Almost everyone on the space station, regardless of their duty or how busy they are, has gathered here.

What are these guys doing out here when they usually prefer to rot in the lab?

No one wants to miss the ignition, I presume?

Thanks to this, the two who arrived late because of their shift had to ask "Tall Guy" to lift them up.

I say, why not just switch the cabin to zero-gravity mode? Pretty sure we'd be able to use the space more effectively that way.

Forget it. You're not gonna rebalance the gravity field afterward, are you?

Shh, the countdown is starting!

15 seconds until ignition of Zero-point Reactor One.

This is Spotted Deer. Area A-2 is all clear.

???

Area B-2 all clear.

???

One stealth drone shot down in Area C-1. Anomalies all cleared.

A total of 26 monitoring zones completely cover the area within 2 kilometers of Reactor One. The Security Intelligence Bureau has deployed half of its elite forces to ensure the ignition is free from interference.

Continuous reports stream into the command vehicle through the communication channels as the newly appointed director of the Security Intelligence Bureau personally oversees the operation.

Stay sharp and keep an eye out for the surroundings, especially the areas covered in vegetation. We don't want to let anyone in who's trying to wreak havoc here.

10 seconds until ignition of Zero-point Reactor One.

I thought you'd be in the front rows for something like this.

I was going to... except my secretary couldn't handle all the paperwork.

This will surely be one of those regrets I take to the grave, right?