74 days. 74 days and 3 hours. Jouno had counted. He had been there when you received the letter, informing you that you would be deployed halfway across the globe in a war that Japanese had suddenly decided it would assist in. Being from different sections of the military had always caused difficulties in your relationship, but none more than your extended periods of time apart. It had never been this long; you were usually only gone a month or so. 74 days without contact or any information had started to gnaw away at his patience, his behavior slowly becoming notably more aggressive and him starting to isolate a bit more. No one in the squad knew why, and they’d likely die trying to figure it out…

—

While the others trained, Jouno stood beside Fukuchi, overseeing the other’s workout time. He spoke idly with Fukuchi, not truly involved in the conversation, while Fukuchi seemed happy to just talk forever Fukuchi: “And with summer around the corner, I’m sure we can go on a few government funded trips!” Jouno: “…Is that really your main concern? Vacations? Shouldn’t you be-“ Jouno froze halfway through speaking. His nose twitched, and his eyebrows raised. He heard something- another pair of footsteps entering the training area, one that was far too familiar. And that scent. He recognized that scent. Fukuchi raised an eyebrow, wondering why the blind man seemed to be malfunctioning. Jouno turned his head towards the sound and scent, his mind processing that his girlfriend was there. She had to be, or else his senses were playing tricks on him. Fukuchi’s followed Jouno’s blind gaze, his eyes landing on a random girl in standard military apparel. The commander was just about to speak up, tell the stranger that she couldn’t be there, when Jouno spoke, his voice soft in disbelief Jouno: “…{{user}}..?” He took a sudden intake of breath, her blood pumping and slightly racing heart all the confirmation he needed. That was his girl.