Hope Like an Angel

Important Meeting

"Geez!" Raphael was surprised, so was I.

"You're late!" Leonardo was carrying a thin book, then tapped it into our heads.

Our headquarters is rectangular pushed forward, dominant color is gray. With some glass to see through certain rooms, it was ten kilometers long and five hundred meters wide. It was vast and enough to fit thousands of people at once.

There are shelves and drawers that are swept in the middle, for document storage or weaponry. Several troops were greeting each other in full uniforms, deep blue.

"Slowly what?" I asked, rubbing my head.

Leonardo pointed his finger at the clock on the right wall. "Meeting starts in five minutes, you know what it's about. And this is very important. Hurry up and change clothes! Five minutes won't come, you must be late!"

I always come at the right time, today too. Indeed, today is special because there is an important meeting, but usually I only take two minutes to change my clothes into a squad uniform...

"Pulse... Fake..." Raphael swallowed his saliva, facing the bathroom door at the left end.

Jesus.. Now I know why Leo said we'd be late, look, the queue is like a 98% discount, it's so crowded!

"Once in a while, try to come faster!" Leonardo again exclaimed, facing us both.

"We couldn't come any faster! The distance between the school and the wall was 2.4 kilometers! It took us more time to get to the base!" I'm trying to fight back.

"Fale! Just this time Raphael arrived later than usual, so I can wait for you here! Because of you, he can't use his bike because it doesn't fit in the elevator! Because you!" Leonardo pointed at Raphael, his face still looking at me furiously.

"After all, it's just a matter of changing clothes, we won't be late." Raphael smiled, trying to disperse the atmosphere.

"Huh. okay. Don't be late, you two." Leonardo went to the right, to his office, with his books, and a long box beside him. He looked dashing and cool at all times, some people greeted him and smiled at him every time.

"Come on, Fal." Raphael tilted his head, signaling. I rushed to the bathroom waiting in line.

As it turned out, some of the troops were also lazing around, they just remembered that there would be an important meeting a few minutes ago. This time the bathroom was really crowded.

It took me eight minutes to finally finish changing my clothes, a dark blue long-sleeved uniform with three gold studs in the front, and tiered but not spread-out trousers, sometimes this shirt feels cool and good, I take my pocket box and stick it next to my pants.

Raphael also came out of the bathroom, wearing dark blue clothes with long trousers where a long box was attached next to his pants.

That long box, is our sword. There are certain buttons that, when pressed, will give off a bright white light that can cut anything. Some of the technology here has already advanced, thanks to the Great General.

The base is rectangular, yes, very long. It can be twelve kilometers long, about one kilometer wide, with doors for large rooms, useful for training, strategizing, and others. The base also tends to be gray.

The school bag, containing school books, is placed on a special shelf, which will be delivered directly to each other's homes through a modern tool, again, the technology here is sometimes amazing.

"Well, seen up close, you're more beautiful." Raphael looked at me anxiously, his hair that had fallen apart earlier, was now getting tighter.

"Indeed." I tidied up my long hair again, making it look beautiful, straight and smooth, trying to joke around.

"Hahahaha, come on, get scolded by Leo." Raphael patted me on the shoulder, then walked ahead of me first. I saw him from behind, he looks cool too... Just like Leonardo...

Oh, my God, what am I doing? I have to hurry!

***

A situation I really don't want to happen...

Inside the long gray room, I stood with Raphael and all the other troops who were late in front of dozens of soldiers, they were staring at us anxiously, laughing, proud, and another look that I don't understand.

"Down!" Leonardo, punishing me and Raphael with the other troops, our faces pale, forced to do a twenty-fold push-up.

"But. got to, man." Raphael complained, his body declining.

"Raphela! Added ten!" Leo exclaimed at him, his head descending towards Raphael's body, he did not retaliate.

I laughed in my heart, but felt sorry for it too. I lowered my body, then carried out the punishment.

"One, two, three, four, five." In my heart I count every move, my hands are used to doing things like this, because I often exercise in my spare time.

After twenty pushups, I stood up straight, looking at the pity Raphael who was still carrying out his punishment ten more times.

"Horn, Raphael!" One of the timely troops scoffed.

"You want to be punished too?" Leonardo was on tiptoes, his tall body surpassing everyone now, all looking at him. The soldier who had looked down was ashamed, mute.

Raphael stood up, rubbing his dirty clothes, his breath heaving slightly. He looked at me nosy, as if saying "So still not tiring!" That sucks.

"Okay, back to the line." Leonardo ruled, we marched with the others as usual.

"Just go ahead." Leonardo came forward, facing us all in the front row, the sound of his shoes sounding loudly filled this huge room, we froze, waiting for his words.

"I hope you prepare your guts, because this news will be the most exciting news in your life." Leo's ferocious voice was burning, we all listened to him carefully.

Wait... the most fun news...?

"The Great General has found the headquarters of the monsters, where they came from, the purpose of your life, everything is there. You guys know what that means? That is, this will be your last mission, we will end the conflict of these monsters at once!" Leonardo continued, moving right and left in front, staring at us firmly.

The headquarters of the monsters?

Found her?

Then... will everything be finished?

"But awkwardly, the headquarters of the monsters tend to be small." The roof of this room is now splitting, taking out a thin box screen, which then lights up, showing a black, mushroom-like place. Very small located in the middle of a deserted sand road.

Is that really the base for monsters?

All the soldiers stared in disbelief, some of them put on happy faces.

"It's located in the Western Regions, near here. Therefore the Great General wants the best of the best to carry out this mission! You understand?!" Leonardo asked presumptuously.

"Ready! Understood!" We all answered.

But their headquarters is very small, lest only a few people be sent to do this last mission...

Before long, Leonardo called out the names of the people who would be chosen to carry out this final mission.

"Raphela!" Leo's turn called out to Raphael, his head rising higher and higher, nodding short.

There are a total of fifteen troops sent for the final mission tomorrow, and I am not summoned. Just be right!

"Well, that's all. Dismantle line!" All the soldiers disperse, the lines are gone instantly, the room leaves only me, Raphael and Leo.

Why didn't Leonardo call me? I pulled my long hair, holding back a lump. Leo was still busy reading the file in his hand.

"Hey!" I called out to him, walking fast.

"What?" Leo answered briefly, his head pointing at me now.

"Why didn't you choose me? I've killed a lot of monsters! Still not enough to go on this important mission?!" I asked presumptuously. The distant Raphael was now closing in on the two of us.

"Fale! You have no idea how important this mission is! We don't need someone weak!"

"Weak, you say?! I am the youngest soldier here! Just like Raphael! And we've killed more monsters than some of the older guys!"

"You think it's about the number of monsters killed?! It's about strategy, cooperation! Discipline! You you? You can't even execute the strategy that's been set up at the briefing of every mission! It'll be hard if you come!"

It's true, I rarely follow mission strategies, but I managed to kill a lot of monsters! I'm not stupid! The more missions I'm working on are successful, they rarely fail.

"But, Kan!"

"It's over!" Leo exclaimed, cutting my sentence.

Hmph, it's up to him. I'd better go home, and find the Fedora Hats Monster itself.

"Raphael, leave us alone." Eh? Leo ruled Raphael, then he left, leaving us both. It's just me and Leo in this room right now.

Leo placed the file he was holding on the table, then patted his body, then exhaled heavily.

"Fal... Do you remember the first time we met? When I found you alone, wet, unconscious?" Leo said subtly, his gaze was also gentle.

"Yes? Why why?" I retaliated.

Leo was silent, and in a flash his face looked pitying.

"I have never had a child, nor have I ever gotten a child's affection from my parents. When I saw you, I felt that you were my main responsibility. And I'm happy living it, I don't want to let you get hurt or die, Fal..."

...

"But why was Raphael included? Why her?"

"Raphael was reliable, he had great natural talent, and never got hurt every time he went on missions for eight years." Leo looked down, saying with all his heart.

"Come on, you'll understand, right? How drastically did my life change when the Fedora Hat Monster killed Mom and Dad? How important is this mission to me? I just want to avenge the right thing, I want to be the one to kill him." I got closer to Leo, our faces almost stuck.

Leo's eyes were on me, his head still down.

Behind his angry and noisy attitude, I knew Leonardo was a wise man...

"Huh. okay." Leo exhaled. His hand stroked my head slowly.

"But if you can. don't die..." His face was worried, he told me that.

"Just calm down, I won't die that fast!" I retaliated. Finally he let me follow the final mission!

"Now leave me alone!" Leo exclaimed, pointing at the exit. I nodded briefly, walking towards that door.

Cracks! I closed it, Raphael was waiting in the main room, next to me.

"Have, Fal?" Raphael asked.

"Yes, he let me!" I smiled broadly.

"Hahahaha, great! At least I'm not alone." Raphael laughing.

The mission will be tomorrow, a holiday. We were ordered to prepare and take the mission seriously.

Believe me I will be more serious than usual, the conflict between monsters and humans will be over because of me.

Fedora fucking... get ready to meet your death!