A few days later, at Marine Headquarters.
Holding Ain's hand, Kane made his way down from the deck, pausing after every step. He looked around at the scene, at once familiar and strange, and sighed to himself.
"More than ten years, and this place hasn't changed a bit!"
Smack!
Suddenly, someone beside him snapped a salute with all his might and shouted, "Mr. Kane, welcome back!"
"Haisoken! You're a Vice Admiral now? Time really flies!"
Kane turned, and delight lit up his face when he saw who it was. Then he introduced him to Ain. "Ain, say hello to Grandpa Haisoken!"
"Hello, Grandpa Haisoken!"
Ain's syrupy-sweet little voice made Haisoken's smile freeze. After a long moment, he said helplessly, "Mr. Kane, I'm a little young to be called Grandpa! And I've been a Vice Admiral for more than ten years. Don't tell me you only just found out?"
"Ah, well..."
Kane looked embarrassed for a moment, then nodded without a care. "Yeah, I did!"
Haisoken: "..."
Well, as long as you're happy...
The two old acquaintances chatted happily, while the other soldiers watched Kane with curiosity. Why was Vice Admiral Haisoken, who held such a high rank at Marine Headquarters, treating a mere Major with such deference?
It was as though a junior had run into an elder...
An old foreman directing workers at the harbor overheard their discussion. He took a swig of liquor and said with a smile, "Of course he is. Mr. Kane became Mr. Zephyr's student back when Zephyr was still an Admiral! When Mr. Zephyr was Chief Instructor at the Recruit Camp, Kane took good care of those raw recruits. They all remember him fondly. Vice Admiral Haisoken was one of them..."
"Mr. Zephyr's student?"
Gulp.
The soldiers swallowed, their throats suddenly dry.
These days,