A hero's crushing realization of human mortality

[herodrawing]

Miss Kanade?

Mr Yancy... and Raleigh, too?

[It doesn't take long for someone to break news to Izuru. The young pilot just stands there, in shock.]

I wasn't even there. I wanted to go to the concert, but...

Why did it happen?

[Some wannabe heroes try to act tough. Izuru is not one of them, at least not now. Tears start to well in his eyes.]

Comments

[keep_your_dignity]

SOMETIMES THERE'S JUST NO OTHER WAY TO GET THE MISSION DONE, HITACHI.

KEEP HER IN MEMORY AND KEEP GOING. IT'S ALL YOU CAN DO.

AS FOR ME, I INTEND TO BEAT THE SHIT OUT OF THE FUCKTARD THAT GOT BECKETT KILLED WHEN WE FIND HIM.

[herodrawing]

I feel like...

Why wasn't I there? Red Five could make a difference. I'm sure.

[Well Izuru, the reason you weren't there is because you were forced to stay behind as punishment.]

[keep_your_dignity]

MAYBE. MAYBE NOT. MAYBE YOU'D BE THE ONE DEAD TODAY.

YOU CAN'T DWELL ON MAYBES, HITACHI. THEY'LL KILL YOU. SLOWER THAN BULLETS, BUT KILL YOU ALL THE SAME.

[herodrawing]

Yes, but...

There must be something more that I can do about this. If... if anything, I want to make sure this does not happen again.

Who was inside that black unknown unit, anyway?

[keep_your_dignity]

IF I KNEW THAT I WOULD BE ASKING FOR LEAVE TO PUT HIM IN AN HOSPITAL, NOT HERE, HITACHI.

ALL YOU CAN DO IS KEEP DOING YOUR BIT AND KEEP THE GUY NEXT TO YOU IN THE TRENCH ALIVE.

AND BEAT IT INTO PEOPLE'S HEADS, INCLUDING YOUR OWN, TO BE CAREFUL AND FOLLOW PROCEDURE. ACCORDING TO THE DEBRIEFS I'VE BEEN GIVEN, THAT FUCKTARD GOT BECKETT KILLED WHILE APPARENTLY TRYING TO HELP AGAINST THE AEROGATORS, WHICH IS EXACTLY WHAT I HAVE BEEN FEARING WOULD HAPPEN HERE FOR WEEKS NOW.

[herodrawing]

...

[Izuru is shocked speechless. But not for long, because it's Izuru.]

He hit Gipsy Danger...

By mistake?

[keep_your_dignity]

THAT'S WHAT I HEARD. I HAVEN'T GOT THE VIDEO YET.

[herodrawing]

That's hard to believe, I mean I can't even picture Leos doing something like that.

[keep_your_dignity]

WHAT WORLD DO YOU LIVE IN, KID?

FRIENDLY FIRE HAPPENS. FRIENDLY FIRE WHEN PEOPLE ARE TOTING AROUND EXPLOSIVES AND HIGH MAGNITUDE WEAPONS HAPPENS A LOT. ABOUT FIVE PERCENT OF CASUALTIES IN A WAR ARE OFTEN FROM FRIENDLY FIRE.

LIFE IS NOT A GAME WHERE YOUR ATTACKS MYSTERIOUSLY DON'T AFFECT ANYONE YOU LIKE , HITACHI.

[herodrawing]

I didn't know that...