Reality Under The Apple Tree -- A DDLC Fanfiction

Backstory Chapter 1 : A13 + Gavin + Ernest

Main Character : A13 (15 years old), Gavin (15 years old), Ernest (32 years old)

Location : H city militia Base #69, recruit training facility

Gavin went to his locker and unloaded his equipments. Today's training routine was quite grueling for his body but he was more than glad that the training was finally over.

As he was taking off his gloves and putting them into his personal locker, he can hear a footstep approaching.

It was Ernest. Being a division leader, Ernest is one of those authorized personnel that are in charge of training new recruits. However, he is quite arrogant and likes to pick on recruits, making him the least liked officer in the entire militia.

Gavin swallow. Ernest coming towards him couldn't mean good. He rose his head and looked at Ernest.

'Wow hello there. Didn't know we recruited kindergarten students.' Ernest said with an ironic tone.

'Hey.' Gavin snapped. 'Stop teasing me about my height! I may be short but I am qualified.'

'Awwww how cute.' Ernest continued. 'Look everyone a cute little kid is shouting at me!'

Everyone in the locker room gave him an awkward laugh. They did not agree Ernest's action but the didn't dare disobeying an officer's 'order' either.

Ernest suddenly pulled out his hand from his back and touched Gavin's cheek. 'Your skin is really soft. Might be better off being a little girl instead.' Ernest said as he squeezed Gavin's face.

'Hey, stop it!' Gavin screamed. 'Get your hand off my face!'

Of course Ernest won't listen to him. He continued to mess with Gavin while commentating about his height and cuteness.

'Hey what the hell are you doing?'

Ernest's action was interrupted by a loud accuse. He turned his head to see A13 standing half-naked at a distance, with a towel on his muscular body.

'Oh hello there new recruit.' Ernest smiled as he approached him. He suddenly changed into an intimidating tone when he is less than a meter away from A13. 'Listen here you little punk. This is none of your business. Now get lost.'

'None of my business?' A13 stood firmly and said. 'You are bullying my peers. This is my business!' His voice gets louder as he spoke.

Ernest put up a sinister grin on his face. 'So you are accusing an officer now. Do you want to know what happens when a recruit shows disrespect to me?' Ernest suddenly threw a punch onto A13's face. 'This is what happens!'

A13 backed off a few steps, his hand holding his face. 'Really? I don't know officers are so brutal nowadays.' He threw his towel into his locker. 'But as long as my peers get bullied, this is still my business.'

A13 walked a few steps towards Ernest. 'Oh, you approaching me? Instead of running away you are approaching me?' Ernest said.

'Stop bullying that guy. Why don't you pick on a person your own size?' A13 said.

'You are the boldest recruit we've had for years. I admire your bravery.' Ernest said. 'But that doesn't change the fact that I am going to beat the shit out of you for crossing me.'

'Bring it on!' A13 shouted. Ernest threw another punch at his face. But this time, he saw it coming. A13 moved his head slightly towards the left, causing Ernest's punch to miss marginally. He then grab Ernest by his forearm and pulled. His action caused Ernest to lose balance and he fell headfirst onto the ground.

A13 moved away a few steps. As Ernest began to regain his orientation he launched several punch towards A13's abdomen. A13 tried to block, but it was too late when he realized Ernest's strength is even larger than his. He still took those hit on his stomach which caused him to groan in pain. Ernest then raised his foot and kicked A13 forcefully, launching him straight into the wall.

A13 felt a sharp pain through his spinal cord. He stood up wearily and prepared for another round of attack. As Ernest approached him yet again, A13 flickered his left arm, causing Ernest to think he was attacking from the left. Ernest raised his arm to block his 'attack' but instead he was struck right in his cheek by A13's right fist.

Ernest endured the pain and delivered counter attacks to A13. Fist after fist he launched towards various part of A13's body and soon A13 begin to falter.

'What the hell is going on here?!'

Their fight was interrupted by Bosco. Bosco is the leader of division 4, hence also an officer.

'Oh Bosco thank god you are here. This delusional recruit is trying to assault an officer, me.' Ernest said.

'Sir this is not true at all! He......' A13 tried to defend himself.

'Okay I've heard enough.' Bosco stopped both of us. 'Assaulting an officer is a serious violation of our rules. A13, write a report for the incident and hand it to me. I will decide your punishment.'

'But sir......' A13 was lost in words. 'Yeah you better be scared. I hope you enjoy your last few days before you are discharged.' Ernest remarked as he begin to leave. His hand still holding his bleeding nose.

As Ernest finally disappeared from the scene, A13 turned to Bosco. 'Please, sir, allow me to explain......'

'You don't need to.' Bosco cut me off. 'I witnessed the whole process. I was standing at the corner watching silently. And yes it is Ernest's fault this time.'

'Then why don't you step in and stop him?' A13 questioned.

Bosco signed. 'You are a new recruit so I understand you don't know that. Ernest is the strongest individual in our militia. The highest score in simulations and the record holder of successful missions and enemies killed. As a result, he is often very full of himself and demanded everyone to listen to him. Whoever crossed him usually were either scolded if he was an officer, or physically punished if he is just a recruit.'

'In fact, you were already quite impressive. No recruit has ever dared to fight back his abuse. Not only did you step up and fought for yourself, you actually caused our strongest officer to bleed.' Bosco continued with a compliment. 'As for the report, I said that just to please him. Don't worry I won't discharge you on this. Just write something on the report that made sense. As for Ernest, he has no right to discharge you in this incident because he is directly involved.'

'Thanks, sir' A13 said to Bosco. 'I will hand in the report on time.'

'Great. Now you are dismissed.'

Bosco left the scene. A13 cleaned his wound with some alcohol and stopped all bleeding with his towel.

'Hey, thank you for standing up for me.' He felt someone grab his arm and shook.

It was Gavin. 'I am so sorry that I got you involved and hurt in this.' Gavin said.

'Oh don't worry. I just can't hold back when I see my peers get bullied, no matter who the bully is.' A13 shrugged his shoulders. 'And that was certainly worth it.'

'By the way, I know you. You studied at the same school as me.' Gavin said cheerfully. 'You are A13, right?'

'That is correct.' A13 replied. 'And what is your name? I don't have much friends at school and I suck at remembering names.'

Gavin smiled as he packed his belonging and began to leave.

'Gavin it is.' He said.