Time is up

I stared at her blankly as she looked at me in awe.

I don't know but it felt like she was expecting me to pacify her, even though it was with just a word. It looked like joy had been restored to her heart, as she was smiling broadly in no time.

"Everyone submit." She said with authority.

Eh! Su... bb...... mi..mit? Is time over?

Damn I've failed this exam, how the hell was time up?

As I tried to look into my script, it was already gone.

I looked back up, and everyone's script was now with Iris.

"Arrrgghh! I never wanted to fall into her trap but, it looks like she got me." I thought, as I gave her a lazy stare.

"Crap! And this was how I failed." I whispered to myself.

Iris was still smiling at me but, I was already crying internally.

H.. How did the time move so fast?

"I hope you did your best?." She said as she walked past me.

Yes, I did my worst! I'm done for this time!.

-----------------------------------

<<(Hiroshi's POV)>>

"I summoned y'all to this meeting because of the casualties of this year's trials."

Minamino said as he took his seat. He makes a charitable gesture with his hands, permitting us to sit down also.

I and the other generals were summoned by Minamino for an important discussion.

"During the trial of a soldier, a death warrant is signed before enrollment. Just in case the participants dies but in this case, a lot of people were injured, and fifty of them are already dead. Consoling and compensating their families won't be easy. Imagine how a family will feel on hearing that their son or daughter is dead." Minamino said.

Man, Minamino might be a top tier general but, he still has human feelings and is so carefree. Even if I'm older, I'm still proud to have him above me.

"According to our analytics, this is the first time since two hundred and sixty years ago, that maximum casualties were recorded during trials because of the war that was going on then." Hinata says with one eyes closed.

"Hiroshi, do you have any suspicions?" Minamino inquired.

"Sorry I don't have any." I said, as I rubbed the back of my head.

"Hmph!" Nazumoto sighed irritably.

"It's your son that's the bad luck Hiroshi!"

Nazumoto was trying to piss me off, but his taunts won't do anything for now.

"What do you mean?" Minamino asked with a serious look.

"Now now, don't try to scare me. Let's look at it from a dynamic angle. First time since two hundred and sixty years? And it's the year Fujishimo joins? Tsk! what a lad!" Nazumoto uttered bluntly.

"Nazumoto!" Hinata was now pissed off, she gripped the edge of the table tightly. Noticing this, I held her back to avoid making matters worse.

"Tssch!" She said in defeat, as she did her best to compose herself.

"Where's Kiriito?" Nazumoto asked, in which Minamino became speechless at his nonchalant attitude towards a serious matter.

"He's not here?" Nazumoto said, as he stretched his arms wide, shaking his head slightly.

"He's enjoying the joy of the barracks, while we're here doing this shit?" Nazumoto said, as he got up in an outrageous manner.

"I'm outta here!" He slams his hands on the table, then paces out of the section.

"Nazumoto!" I said calmly as I held my forehead in disbelief.

If Minamino wanted, he could have pounced on him and give him a few lashes but the general of the army is quite quiet.

"Can't he cooperate with us for once?"

I said.

"He still behaves a child." Hinata said.

"Keep giving me updates of any information you find." Minamino said as he got up from his seat.

"Yes sir!!!" Both of us echoed as we bowed slightly in respect.

"Am I free now?" He asked.

"Seriously?! Is this the general of the army?"

I thought as a smile crept on my face.

"Yes sir!" I replied immediately.

"Okay then, see ya!" He says as he walks out of the section.

"That Nazumoto!" Hinata said with a distorted look.

"Can't he just keep his cool?" I asked to ease the anger that was fermenting in Hinata

"Huff!" She heaves a sigh.

"Oh!" She uses her palm to hit her forehead like she remembered something.

"What?" I asked, as my curiosity got the better of me.

"The written aspect should be over by now." She said.

"Oh yeah! I had totally forgotten" I responded in a perplexed manner. "We need to check how Fushi's doing." I said.

I never thought that I'll forget.

"Yeah, we better get going!" She said as she picked up her jacket, with both of us exiting the section thereafter.

<<(Mc's POV)>>

The breeze was now blowing lightly, as people's chatter were disrupting nature's flow.

They were talking about their different encounters in the written aspect, while others were drowning in depression.

Shinsui was out of sight, and I had no interest to talk to anyone else and more importantly, I didn't give a damn!

"Huff! It seems I'm too strict." I thought as a smile crept on my face.

Shinsui's character was really getting into me.

"I wished he was here." I whispered to myself. I didn't really enjoy his disturbance but, it was so boring standing aloof others.

"Son!" I heard a voice that reverberated through my ears. It was dad!

"Why is he here?" I thought.

"How was the written aspect?" He asked as he walked closer.

I wanted to keep mute but, I had a change of mind.

As I wanted to speak, Hinata interrupts.

"Jeez! You're already like an old jeezer." She retorted. "You're terrible at communicating." She says to my dad with a wide smile.

"Now!" She said with a high pitch, as she rested half of her body on half of mine which sends me off balance.

"Whoa!" I said, as I tried to retain my footing.

"Relax, you're not going to fall." She reassured me calmly. "Don't you have a girl?" She asked alongside a smile.

A what? For real?

"No I don't! And I don't plan on having!" I replied blankly.

"Well well, how was your exams?."

She asked as she bounces back to her feet.

"Hmmmm. How do I put it...."

I didn't want to tell them that I did nothing but, I wanted them to know of the fact that it was very hard.

"It was in no way easy." I said with a random expression.

"That's how it's meant to be, wishing you the best, peace!." She said as she does the number two figure with her index and middle finger.

"Do your best son, I know you'll make it."

He said, as he patted me in the shoulder.

"Yeah, thanks for your care but, I didn't even answer a question. But at least, I tried my best." I thought.

"See ya later!" Both of them chorused, as they walked away.

"Hmm" I replied.

"You see, that's how to talk to your son."

She said, as she playfully mocks my dad.

"Whatever!" He says comically.

They kept talking as they walked further, but I couldn't hear due to the distance.

"Man they sure seem to get along."

I whispered to myself as I continued walking aimlessly.

Man! I miss the old days. I clenched my fists as I raised my hands slightly while staring at my fists.

-------------------------------

<<(Hiroshi's POV)>>

"Argh! Man!" I said, as I heaved a sigh of contentment.

"I pray Fushi scales through." I said.

I never knew I was already thinking aloud.

"Yeah I also." A voice rang through my ears

I had totally forgotten Hinata was still with me.

I nodded in affirmation as we shared our opinions.

"He gotta make us proud." I said.

"Yeah! He better not be like his dad." She replied tauntily.

"Wait wha?" I didn't hear her clearly but I knew the sound that emitted from her mouth was surely sarcastic.

"And oh!" She said, snapping her fingers elegantly. "If he scales through then we're gonna need an album like the one we took in our own time." She completes her statement.

"Then....." I said as I stroke my chin with my fingers

"Then King is the right person for the job." She interrupted.

"King?" I asked with a depressed tone.

"Yeah king!" She said.

"Now," I said, hoping to cut the celebration short. "You know I and that guy never got along." I said as I tried to convince her but, to no avail.

I continued with campaign to see if she would buy it.

"He always feel like his perfect. I mean, what can he draw or illustrate that I cannot do better?"

"Hiroshi! You can't even draw a scribbled line, your art stinks." She said with pouted lips.

"Hey! Try to acknowledged me for once."

I yelled comically.

"Never, not this time!" She said.

"Fine, you would soon acknowledged my artistic talent." I said half-smiling, and in no time, it turned into a giggle.

- * -

"We're here!" I uttered with both eyes closed.