This Desolate Existence (boy x boy) COMPLETED

Part 6

Finally, just when I thought it would never end, Corporal decides it's a good time to set up camp. We all haul out the tents and set them up quickly, just like we were taught. I go and gather branches for a fire, although I doubt we'll be able to light it in this weather. Especially since the wood is also wet. It's a good thing we have dried meat just for occasions such as this, but we don't have much. 

Now, we have to decide which tents we'll be sleeping in. We'll have to put at least three people in each tent, more if we can manage it. I end up in a tent with Shuhei, Yuzu, and Yayoi. This will not be much fun. Yuzu talks in his sleep, Yayoi snores like a hurricane, and Shuhei just makes me uncomfortable. I'm not sure why, but I'm always uneasy when we're in close quarters. So, that night I sleep fitfully. One time, I wake up with Yuzu kicking me in the back. When I try to wiggle away, I bump into Yayoi. He then snorts and proceeds to breath in my face.

When I wake up next, the sun's early rays are peeking into our tent. It seems everyone else is also just beginning to wake up. Except for the Corporal, who's already awake and extra perky this morning. I am not a morning person, at all. Then again, what kid is? The only person I've known who isn't grumpy in the morning is Tobio and that's because he's never anything but happy. I don't know how he does it, but I need whatever he has. As I sit up, the other three in the tent begin to stir. 

"Good morning, Ran!" Yuzu cheers, stretching. I flinch at the loud sound. Well, I now know two people who actually like mornings. 

"What're you yelling for?" Yayoi complains. He yawns and rubs his eyes.

Shuhei sighs as he sits up. "I think I might be deaf now. Who screams after just waking up?"

"Apparently him," Yayoi replies. I stay out of the conversation. I don't like talking when I first wake up.

"You all are so mean," Yuzu whines.

"If you didn't scream at the crack of dawn, we wouldn't be."

Yuzu huffs then turns to me. "I think Ran is still asleep." He pinches my cheek.

I slap his hand away. "I'm awake. With that yell, I'm surprised the entire camp didn't hear it." Yuzu continues to pout all during our morning meal. Ibiki just simply laughs at him, though he's sad he wasn't the one to scold Yuzu for shouting.

"Alright, let's pack it up. We have a lot of distance to cover." Luckily, the rain has stopped. However, the paths we take are extremely muddy and we find ourselves slipping constantly. And me, being my clumsy self, has to lose my footing and fall. Now, I'm completely covered in mud. Shuhei comes over and holds his hand out. Gratefully, I take it and he helps me up.

Ibiki cackles at my appearance. "If only you could see your face!"

I frown, flicking mud at him. "You should see yours," I respond as he recoils. 

"Shut up," he mutters. I smirk proudly, knowing I won.

"All of you, keep up! And please try not to fall," Corporal states. Our faces sober up as we continue our miserable march. By the time night falls again, we're even more miserable than we were before. We sit around the campfire and nobody looks at each other.

I get an idea and turn to Shuhei, Takeshi, Yayoi, Yuzu, Ibiki, and Tobio. "We should sing."

They look at me, puzzled. Tobio speaks up, "Why?"

"Because we're all miserable. If we sing, it might lift everyone's spirits."

Shuhei nods. "Good idea. Give me a second." He heads to our tent and quickly returns with a small guitar. 

I raise my eyebrows. "You know how to play that?"

"My mother taught me. Apparently, it runs in the family," he answers. He starts strumming as I think of a song to sing. I don't actually know any, so I just start.