"First, Salsa, take off your clothes and dance!"
"Get out of here, you idiot!!"

The battlefield is hell. Everyone becomes trapped in madness and loses their sanity. It's the same in a drinking session.

"Who would be happy seeing a naked man? I'll kill you, Salsa!"
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry!"
"New recruits can't do anything right."

To celebrate today's victory, the squad leader held a party as promised. As the sun began to set and visibility worsened, a small party started in the trench around a small campfire. In the hands of the last person to arrive, Squad Leader Garback, were rare alcoholic drinks and snacks that were scarce on the battlefield.

"I won't give alcohol to boring guys. If you don't want a bullet in your ass, stay away."
"I'm sorry!"

Just a few minutes into the party, the squad leader had already opened a bottle of strong liquor and was blushing in delight. He was jokingly kicking the members of the squad, including Salsa. If possible, Salsa didn't want to deal with Garback in such a state.

"Even though you're new, can't you do any decent tricks? Are you disrespecting me!?"
"I'm sorry."

Despite that, Salsa-kun and I were ordered to perform some kind of trick. If I were to resist, I would be executed for two counts of insubordination. I really don't want to be executed for such a stupid order. I want to believe it's just a joke. 

"Ahahaha. You might think it's a crazy request, but it's a tradition not only in our squad but also in various other squads."
"Well, the squad leader is strict about tricks."
"If you make me feel uncomfortable, I'll beat you up and bury you."

Indeed, I've heard that this kind of party performance is a task for newcomers. It was also the case in my previous life. However, I have never experienced such a drinking party before in my previous life. So I was troubled about what to do. Then Salsa-kun suddenly raised his hand and said something stupid, and was scolded by the squad leader.

"If you're not useful on the battlefield, at least contribute in this kind of situation."
"Um, according to what you just said, do I have to take off my clothes and dance?"

Salsa-kun needed to learn the skill of reading the mood. If he was forced to dance naked, it would be me, a woman, who would suffer if things go wrong. If I had to choose between being shot or dancing naked, of course I would dance, but my true desire is to be spared from such a thing. 

"I don't need a skinny little boy! Who would be happy to see a kid's body? I'll kill you."
"I'm sorry."

Being scolded by the squad leader, I felt a little relieved. Judging from his tone of voice, it seemed that I wouldn't be subjected to any strange requests. He shouted something like "Men shouldn't take off their clothes," so I thought I would be forced to do something in that direction.

"But if neither of you can do any decent performance, then I'll let Touli off the hook. Salsa, do something interesting."
"...I'd like to spare myself from dancing naked, so here's something I can do."
"Oh, what is it, Touli? Do you have something?"

There are only a limited number of performances that can be done in a place without any props like this. Fortunately, I have a skill that I learned from a sister in the orphanage, so I'll get through this with that.

"I'm Konkon, the fox. And I'm Wanwan, the dog."
"Oh, ventriloquism, huh? You're good at it."
"Konkon, Wanwan."

I made the shapes of a dog and a fox with my fingers and moved them while trying to make noises without moving my lips. This reminds me of playing with the kids at the orphanage. Actually, you're supposed to use a doll to do this, but I don't have anything at hand now, so I'm using my hands instead.

"Wow, you're quite skilled. Your voice even changes, and your lips aren't moving at all."
"Touli-chan is cute imitating barks. As for me, I think I'm okay at it, Captain."
"Wanwan, then let's sing a song."
"Wow, can you even sing with that?"

I have confidence in this act. In fact, I even considered becoming a traveling performer with this act before I was drafted into the military.

"『Hikari wo hanatsu (haanaatsuu), waga sokoku (sookookookuu)』"(Let the Light Shine, My Homeland)
"Huh? I hear two voices."
"『Yuumou muhinaru (muhinaaruu), shiso no kago wo (kaagoowoo)』"(Blessed be the unmatched founder of our land)
"Wait, Touli-chan, you're singing a duet by yourself."
"Wow, she is harmonizing with ventriloquism! Hahaha!"

I sang a well-known military song in ventriloquism and chorused it in ventriloquism as well. After long training, I became able to sing with two different voices at the same time. In the orphanage, I was given the nickname "Touli the ventriloquist," and always received applause.

"That's all. Thank you for your attention."
"Well done! Here's your reward. You're still a kid, so I'll give you chocolate instead of alcohol!"
"I'm humbled by your excessive praise, Captain."
"We appreciate people who can do something. Hahaha!"

Fortunately, it seems that I didn't offend the Captain. On the contrary, he was laughing loudly and patting my head happily. Oh, that's good. It's true that skills can help you out in life.

"Touli...betrayed us..."
"What do you mean by betrayal?" 

For some reason, Salsa is looking at me with a resentful gaze. If anything, it was because of you that I was almost forced to dance naked.

"So, what are you going to do, Salsa?"
"...For now, I'll take off my clothes."
"Stop stripping, or I'll kill you."

Afterward, he kept saying stupid things and was forced to do 100 push-ups, 100 squats, 100 sit-ups, etc. until he collapsed during the drinking party. On the battlefield, it's customary to wear down newcomers not with precious alcohol, but with physical exercise. If I didn't have any skills and refused to dance naked, I would have ended up the same way...

"..."
"Captain, may I have permission to give Salsa a massage so that he can move tomorrow?"
"Do as you please."

If we don't do something, he won't be able to move tomorrow due to muscle pain. As someone responsible for the health of the squad, let's allow Salsa to have a massage and cooling down. After all, he is my valuable shield.

"Are you awake, Private Salsa?"
"What is it, in the middle of the night like this?"

It was still the middle of the night, before the break of dawn. The noise around me woke me up from my sleep.

"Good evening, senpais. Is there a mission or something?"
"Oh, Touli-chan is up too."
"Hmm?"

Confused, I raised my head to see several members of the squad, including Gray-senpai, waking up a groggy Salsa. It was deep into the night, and the bonfire in the trench had died down. All the soldiers had already gone to sleep.

"I am Private Second-Class Touli, the medic. How can I assist you?"
"Uh..."

I thought they might need me for a medical emergency or for a nighttime operation, but Gray and the others had a guilty look on their faces. Come to think of it, I wasn't woken up. Was this some kind of top-secret mission only for Private Salsa?

"Is there going to be a night raid? Should I check my equipment now?"
"No, that's not it. It's not a mission."
"Then, what is it?"
"Um, well, Gray, please explain it to her."
"Why me!? ...Fine, all right."

The senpais looked flustered when I asked them what was going on. 

...This atmosphere doesn't feel like a mission operation. Somehow, I can imagine what's going on.

"Well, our squad leader is really tough on rookies. Salsa must be stressed out, so I thought we could help him let off some steam."
"Just me? Touli's also pretty... you know."
"Well, figure it out, Salsa. You're a man, right? That kind of thing builds up, doesn't it?"
"Ah..."

Upon hearing this, Salsa also realizes what they're talking about. So it's in that direction after all. It's about the camaraderie between men.

"Oh, I see. Well, then, uh, let's do that."
"..."

The atmosphere became very awkward.

Having sexual relations with female soldiers is against military regulations. However, I've heard that when in constant life-threatening situations, instinct can heighten sexual desire.

They must also release their sexual tension to some extent. They probably have some erotic photos or books hidden somewhere.

"I don't know what you're talking about, but if you don't need me, I'll go back to sleep."
"Oh, sorry about that, Touli."
"Please don't oversleep tomorrow, Salsa."

Oh no, I've done it. Because I woke up, the atmosphere became very awkward. Let's pretend not to notice anything and turn away, and go back to sleep.

"Hmm, since you're up, Touli-chan, why don't you come too?"
"Cough!?"

Just as I was about to get back into a sleeping position, I choked on Gray-senpai's words. What is this person trying to say?

"Um, Senpai?"
"Well, I mean, since it's already been figured out, Touli-chan is 15 years old, right? She's right in the middle of the age where she's interested in doing dirty things, isn't she?" 

Senpai was inviting me with a completely innocent face. What is this person thinking, inviting a woman to watch erotic books? It's definitely just going to be awkward.

"I-I'm going to refrain from participating..."
"The daughter of a medic is also selling herself. She earns pocket money doing it."

The medics are selling themselves. At those words, I inadvertently turned around and jumped up.

"W-What do you mean, Gray?"
"Since there aren't many girls on the battlefield, the local town girls regularly come to sell their bodies, and female soldiers like medics and engineers also participate in prostitution."
"W-Wait a minute! What about military discipline? I recognize that it's a violation of military discipline."
"Oh, yeah. It's only a violation if it's the kind of activity that can lead to pregnancy. Using the mouth, hands, or any other hole is legal. Also, sex between men is legal."
"Wh-what!?"

My expectations were apparently too naive. I thought at most they would just get together in the middle of the night and read erotic books with their squad members. But these people were planning to do much more obscene things than I had imagined.

"Even Captain Garback has turned a blind eye to prostitution. I tried to invite him the other day and got punched."
"I heard that the current head of the medical department, Ms. Gael, used to participate in prostitution in the past too."
"That sexy woman? Ugh, I envy those who were around back then."
"..."

Oh, I don't want to hear this. I respect the head of the medical department quite a bit, and I don't want to believe such rumors. It's true that Gael is incredibly beautiful, but if that's true, it's quite shocking.

"Oh, Senpai, Touli seems troubled, so we should stop here."
"Well, it's not the kind of conversation to have with a girl. Sorry about that."
"N-No, it's just that I would appreciate it if you could refrain from bringing up such topics with me in the future."
"You're younger, Touli. You're only 15. Let's wait a little longer before we talk about dirty stuff with you."

Salsa-kun protected me with all his might. Good job! I've heard that men become vulgar once they join the military, but I didn't know that their sense of decency would disappear to this extent. Even if it's normal to be outspoken, no one would say something like "Would you like to do prostitution?" to a woman.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry. Touli-chan always looks expressionless, so I thought she might say something like 'It's fine,' even when sober."
"Just how do you see me...?"

I became expressionless because I can't laugh anymore due to stress from being on the battlefield. When I was living in the orphanage, I used to laugh a lot.

"Well then, let's go, let's go, Senpai. Touli, please rest well."
"Yes, I'll take you up on your offer."
"Well, it's been a while since we've gone all out!"
"Let's have some fun!"
"Hahaha, ha."

I watched my seniors (and Salsa with his forced smile) walk with vulgar grins on their faces in amazement. Salsa-kun, please don't let yourself lose your sensitivity by being influenced by weird seniors. If I had to hear lewd jokes from my only fellow newcomer on a daily basis, I would definitely get sick.

"...Yawn."

Slightly annoyed at having my sleep time wasted like this, I once again gave in to deep drowsiness. Ah, the ground is cold again today.

"Sniff, sniff... I can't become a groom anymore."
"......"

The next morning, when I woke up, Salsa-kun was already awake, crying with swollen red eyes while holding his butt.

"Um... Senpai, what did you guys do to Salsa?"
"Aha-hahaha. Last night, Gray tricked Salsa into charging into the gay room naked."
"We thought he would come out right away, but apparently he got caught and... Well, I don't want to remind him of that."
"Oh please don't! Don't remind me!"

... Oh, I see.

"It's okay, Private Salsa. I'll never hold any prejudice against whatever you do, Salsa."
"Touli is looking at me with an unusually kind gaze!? No, wait, I kept my purity till the end!" 

So that's why Salsa-kun has been holding his butt all this time. I've heard that the military is like that, so he must have been very popular with the young men.

"Well, cheer up Salsa. I'll treat you next time properly, okay?"
"We went too far last night. Sorry."
"Well, I won't trust you guys again!"

And so, Salsa-kun's first celebration after coming to the battlefield ended with a great deal of emotional damage. After a big victory like yesterday's, soldiers often hold such parties as a way to release their stress. Many soldiers live for this little bit of entertainment.

"By the way, Salsa, how many people did you...?"
"I didn't do anything with anyone, I was just touched! I protected my chastity!"

He continued to assert his innocence with tears in his eyes and a strong tone. Personally, I would be more relieved if Salsa-kun awakened to his homosexuality.

"My body is still pure!"
"...Yes, it must have been hard for you."
"Touli's eyes are still kind!"

I realized once again that madness swirls on the battlefield.

That was a day.