Kiana And Sal's Bizzare RomCom Drabble Collection

Drabble 52: 'KiaSal Forgotten Memories 3.6' Thunders Over Ogasawara

Located over a thousand kilometres South of Tokyo, in the abode of the Pacific, sits a group of islands famously referred to as the Bonin Islands. Still, the natives prefer to call it the Ogasawara Islands. Despite their distance from the concrete jungle we call Tokyo, these islands are still part of the metropolis. Many stories are attached to this place, many tragic yet magical.

As this place had served as a forward base during the second eruption and during the second Honkai World War, many old military installations were sprawled through this natural beauty. However, all of them are abandoned now and home to this subtropical location's unique yet rich flora and fauna. Also, due to its isolated geographical positioning, these islands have developed a unique system, earning them the nickname "Galápagos of the Orient."

In the summer of 2019, this place was now being used as a resupply base for Anti-Entropy. And to some extent, as a vacation home, many veterans from the Honkai wars have become permanent inhabitants of these islands.

"So you mean to say despite being a group of thirty subtropical islands, only two of them are inhabited by humans," said Susannah, clad in her mint-green sleeveless crop top and high-waisted white shorts.

Sal nodded as he broke the blue-coloured popsicle he had bought from the port supermarket. He passed the bigger one to his childhood friend and ate the smaller one.

"Thank you", Susannah accepted. "But why?"

"Hm?" He asked with his mouth still full.

"First of all, that's gross." Susannah shook her head, exasperated, as she brought a hankey to wipe the blue stain on his cheek. "And the islands. Why inhabit only two?"

"Oh." He said as he let Susannah do what she wanted. "Well, out of the thirty, ten are infested with Honkai, and the remaining are just volcanoes. So that kind of leaves us with only these two."

"And they still won't build an airport here?!"

"It's for the conservation of the place, you know." Sal shrugged and jumped over the block railing over the edge of the road facing the ocean; the two friends were far from the seaport and over the edge of the coastal cliff road that led to the residential area. "Plus, isn't it nice that way. Far off on an island away from all the stuff."

"That's true..." Her voice wavered as she held her straw hat. "But still, it seems inconvenient for the people living here."

"Ever the same, eh Scramble brains. Worrying about others." Sal smiled. "But don't worry; there's a cargo ship coming every three days with supplies; plus, these islands are pretty self-sufficient and don't forget the fishes. They got lots of them."

"True," She replied. "Though I wished it were still a bit connected."

"You are being pretty adamant today."

"Being isolated might showcase beauty, but..." Susannah stopped. Her usually sparkling amber eyes had a tinge of pain as she averted her gaze towards the glistening waves of the ocean crashing below. "But...when disaster strikes, there's no one to help."

"That tragedy won't happen again." Sal sighed and turned over; he gently placed his hand over her shoulder and gave it a light squeeze. "Trust me, never again."

"I know." She nodded. "I know."

Sal could only hum in response.

"Anyhow," Susannah wipes away a single strand of tear. "We have been here for a week, right?"

"That's what Theresa has been saying." He sat over the ledge and replied. His feet were hanging over the cliffside.

"That's dangerous," Susannah interjected but did the same as him. "And honestly, is Principal Theresa trying to use us as hostages?"