At this mont, I was on the roof and leaning back on the railings when I finally readied myself to one of the most important calls in my life.
Despite my improving social skills, calling a complete stranger cold—despite my achievents and things associated with my na—was still a hurdle, and the continued ringing in my ear once I finally put in the numbers through my sat phone was making my heart beat a little faster.
'Hello, my na's Sky Ishiyama— Nah. Greetings? Konichiwa? Moshi Moshi~? Shit— FUCK!'
Then the call suddenly connected:
[This is Sgt. Jiuzo of the Kadena Airbase. To whom am I speaking?]
"Ah— It's Sky Ishiyama, from—"
[Ah~ I see. We received a rather~ threatening call from the Admiral a day or so ago. Was the kid he was talking about you? You have the na— do you really belong in a special unit?]
"It's— It's complicated, to say the least, but I'd first like to extend my thanks for accepting my call—"
[Boy, it's just a press of a button, why don't we skip the formalities?]
"We could do that, Sergeant, but I still want to be proper with you."
[Hmm. Is that right?]
"Yes, sir."
[Hmm, but if you're looking for the Commander, he's unfortunately sowhere else.]
"May I ask where he is?"
[It's classified.]
"I see. Then since you're the one answering his number—"
[The Commander has several numbers. This is just one that's entrusted to .]
"Well— Since the Commander has entrusted you with one of his numbers, it seems to that he gave you the responsibility to handle so of his affairs."
[No.]
"Pardon?"
[I— It didn't "seem" that he gave responsibility for "so" of his affairs. He did give the responsibility to handle ALL of his affairs.]
"I understand. I apologize for the misunderstanding."
[Don't be coy with . I'm just stating the facts.]
"I… I'm just stating the facts too…"
[Hmm.]
"Anyway, since the Commander is soplace else, I'm pretty sure— no. I guarantee that you've also been inford of my impending visit to the Kadena Airbase in a month or so."
["Or so?" That doesn't sound definite.]
"Well, I do need to plan my trip—"
[Boy, you're not taking this thing seriously.]
"Excuse ?"
[You heard what I said. From my recollection, you'll be coming from the Philippines with a rag-tag group of foreign soldiers, youths, and other citizens WE would have to feed for the duration of your stay—]
"Hold up—"
[Let finish. While we can spare you a few days of food, we'd rather have you procure them yourselves for the duration of your stay since clearing out part of the barracks for a few dozen of you would be trouble enough for the things that we are facing.
In addition, you might be the Admiral's special guest but we wouldn't be able to cater to most of your requests until approved by the Commander or for that matter.]
Experience more tales on empire
"I understand—"
[I'm not done. In addition, your group is expected to carry out tasks that I'll personally give you, and glazing over them is not tolerated. You're to be expected to live as equals among the refugees while giving us soldiers respect, and if those things aren't t, we'd be forced to send you away one way or another—and a glaring report would be sent from to the Admiral directly.
Is that understood?]
"I understand."
[Then I'm done.]
"You're allowing to reply now?"
[If you'd have to ask that, you shouldn't be planning a trip here just to see the sights.]
"Okay. I've been very respectful to you so you should do the sa and be respectful to , Sergeant. First off, we're not asking for special treatnt once we get there. If you ask us to do so shit, we'll fucking do it.
Secondly, I would've been inclined to offer MORE help than what you require in so form— or if you needed sothing you can't just get anywhere else but lem tell you that since I'm a good and respectful 'boy', I'll give you one more chance for that if you apologize—"
[You—]
"I'm not done, Sergeant. Give the sa respect I gave you or else I'll also send a glaring report to the Admiral in which YOU are supposed to answer for RESPECTFULLY, not . I belong in a special unit and even though I'm open to help, I'm not inclined to follow with your whims while your Commander is away. Do you understand that?"
[H-Hmm.]
"Thank you for your candor. So yeah, if we're gonna be welcod this way, I'd rather dock my ship soplace else because one, we have enough room to house everyone in my ship and two, we'd be bringing enough food for ourselves so we wouldn't impose on all of you.
However, we will still bring you so stuff because we aren't fucking rude—despite talking like a sailor—and I just hope to fucking god Commander Tachikawa returns quickly so I can see whether you're the only one who talks like that because I'd gladly show him this recording."
[Recording?! You're recording this conversation?!]
"I used to get shit on by assholes on the phone a lot so it beca a normal thing for . I an— if this is how you usually do things, what's there to hide, right? But judging from your reaction, it seed like you had a bad day and just wanted to lay off your frustrations on a kid coming there to 'sightsee' but it ultimately backfired on ya.
However, seems to that you respect your CO more than the Admiral but do rember your CO answers to the Admiral too— which unfortunately is the CO of YOUR CO. I may be imposing on your ti since you people ARE busy but I always bring my own shit and keep my supposed hosts satisfied every ti I visit. Japan might frown upon giving tips but the airbase is still part of the US, right?
I know it's bullshit but I still follow your stupid customs."
[...]
"Sergeant Juizo, you still there?"
[I… I apologize. So if you so kindly—]
"Great! So, why don't you put the fucking Commander on the phone so we're not wasting each other's ti?"
[I— The Commander really is out and he tasked us with—]
"Uh-huh. Then I'd like a different custor service representative on the phone."
[Excuse ?!]
"Excuse you? You told to drop the fucking pleasantries a few seconds in so I'm doing just that. Do you understand that at least, Sergeant?"
At this point, my breathing was more elevated compared to when I was getting ready to call—and I just couldn't help but stand my ground since if a Sergeant from that place was treating us that way while we hadn't even docked in their precious Airbase, I'd rather take my chances elsewhere.
In addition, if I didn't see Eikiji who snuck in there, I really would've dropped the call and wait for Commander Tachikawa—or better yet, called Admiral Burke once again and know why he gave them such a 'threatening' call.
But yeah, after so hesitation from Sergeant Juizo, he transferred my call to soone else who was also not that happy about receiving a call:
[Juizo, who's this fucker?]
[Lieutenant! I-It's the boy— person— guy the Admiral talked to the Commander a day or so ago! H-He can hear us!]
I cut in, "I really can. What's up, Lieutenant? The fuck's your na?"
[Hah! Sanders! Nice to et you too! The fuck do you want? Huh?!]
"A bucket of spicy chicken, a famous bowl, extra gravy—"
[YOU— PFFT! AHAHAHA! I'D ACTUALLY KILL FOR THAT ORDER! JUIZO! THE FUCK YOU DIDN'T TRANSFER HIM TO SOONER?! I WOULD'VE— Juizo?
OI! Dammit—]
"He dipped, huh?"
[Seems so. But joking aside, do you have any idea what ti it is?! It's almost midnight and you give us a call?! You have a deathwish or sothing?!]
"Would you have answered in the dayti if you were so fucking busy?"
[Fair. The fuck you want, anyway?]
"I'm just trying to bridge the gap here and link with Commander Tachikawa and the Kadena Airbase. Though talking with Sergeant Jizz-o, it seems that we aren't welco."
[Not exactly but the Commander is fast asleep. I can wake him up but I'll be in the bottom of the ocean as soon as I knock on his door.]
"Then can you relay a ssage— and what do you an by 'not exactly'? Are we welco or not? And don't worry, we'll be good either way."
[Who are you here for, anyway? Weird ti to sight-see, I can tell you that much.]
"I'm taking a trip there for family."
[Huh? I'm sorry, kid. But there's no one here in the register with the sa last na as you do.]
"It's the type of family not bound by blood but just as close."
[Can you give a na?]
"Yamamoto."
[Yama— WHAT?! Y-YOU—]
"Hmm? Sothing wrong?"
[THOSE FUCKING— I'm sorry, you don't happen to know a fucking thieving runt with a stupid look on his fucking face, right?]
"What?"
[This is embarrassing to say but we've been losing out shit because so of our equipnt and gear have gone missing and our only lead is this stupid fucking runt we caught on the CCTVs.]
"Huh."
[I an, the CCTVs took footage of that fucking kid but no one here has caught a fucking glimpse of that motherfucker! So of the soldiers here have been saying it's the ghost of so kid up in the mountains, it's crazy, I tell you.]
"Uh-huh… That is crazy, alright…"
'Oh fuck, oh fuck, oh fuck— That fucking— AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!'
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