Astronomy // Duty After School

Chapter Forty-Five.

Platoon 2 stood in a single-file line to turn in their guns. (Y/n) was at the back of the line, counting the number of people ahead of her. The kids had to, of course, give their attendance number when turning in their gun. Chun-ho stood back, letting the kids handle themselves.

"Why is it the only thing my gun does is get heavier? Is it getting heavier only for me?"

"I guess you're still not used to it."

"Right? Gosh..."

"Thank you," Il-ha said, heading off after Tae-man. Hui-rak turned in his gun next and as he walked off, he felt a drop of water with no other source than the leak in the room.

"Fuck! Wang Tae-man! Kwon Il-ha!" Hui-rak seethed. "You guys said you would repair this!" Yeong-shin took Hui-rak's gun from So-chul, allowing Bo-ra to finally turn in her gun.

"Stop complaining. Why don't you do it?" Bo-ra huffed.

"Number 1," Yeong-su said, handing over his gun to So-chul. "What about the radio?" So-chul and Yu-jeong looked at him. "Is it still not working?"

"No," So-chul answered shortly.

"When will we get connected?" Yeong-su sighed, walking off. So-chul immediately grew more pleasant when (Y/n) walked forward to turn in her gun. Yeon-ju reached the table at the same time as (Y/n).

"Number 22," (Y/n) said, glancing down at the box of pills Yeon-ju set down.

"This is what the search team brought back, but there are no useful medications," Yeon-ju informed. "Things are hectic right now because so many people have frostbite." Yu-jeong looked back at their platoon's target location list.

"There's a hospital nearby, so let's search over there," Yu-jeong suggested, looking at Chun-ho to make sure that was okay. He nodded. "I'll plan a route later." Yeon-ju nodded and headed off with (Y/n) to get in the dinner queue. So-yun and Yeong-shin were walking just ahead of them.

"Do you eat silkworm pupae?" Bo-ra asked Hui-rak.

"How can you eat pupae?" Hui-rak grimaced.

"Just eat anything."

"I'm hungry!"

"Gosh, I'm hungry," Sun-yi murmured, walking forward to get her food. "Oh!" she exclaimed, pointing behind Jang-su and taking an extra can of food while he was distracted.

"What?" Jang-su blinked.

"Oh, it was nothing," Sun-yi murmured, shaking her head and walking off. Jang-su stared after her rather knowingly. Jun-hi walked forward to get her food before frowning at the size of the can. She attempted to tuck her hair behind her ears, but it was in pigtails.

"Jang-su, can't I have one more?" Jun-hi requested, blinking at the boy. Jang-su stared blankly at her. "I can't, right? Shit." Jun-hi walked off miserably. So-yeon walked forward next, taking her food without complaint. By extending her hand, Jang-su immediately caught sight of So-yeon's frost-bitten fingers.

"Did you get hurt?" Jang-su asked. So-yeon closed her hand, quickly sticking it in her pocket.

"It's nothing," So-yeon insisted.

"Join the search team tomorrow," Jang-su instructed.

"Forget it," So-yeon scoffed, taking her food and leaving.

"Hi, Jang-su," Deok-jung greeted pleasantly. He held his palms out, one hand over the other. Jang-su set a can in the boy's hands. "Pupae... Jang-su, can't I get a little more today?" he pleaded. He gasped as he looked down at his stomach. "I feel like my stomach is eating itself!"